Thoughts : Anatomy of the Mind

.: Dear Maths, It's Time You Move On :.

2012-01-26T12:40:00.002+08:00

.: Two Different Hearts, Two Different Reviews :.

2012-01-26T02:01:00.001+08:00

If I had one unfavourite novel from all the Jodi Picoult novel, it has to be Harvesting Heart.

Well, I suppose Jodi can't have a 100% hit, and I would have to say that this is one of her miss.

The plot was slow, characters that I could just not relate to, lack of the trademark emotions that Jodi usually displays in her better novel, in summary I AM DISAPPOINTED! In all honesty, if this was the first book of Jodi that I have read, it would have completely shut me off away from her other novels. Thank goodness it wasn't the case because the other novels that she has written are just UH-mazing!

I really wouldn't recommend anybody to waste their money (or time) to get this book.

On the other hand, Change of Heart have got to be one of my favourite picks.

This novel is told chapter by chapter by various characters, one of her trademark writing styles that I love. Touching on (yet again) another controvasial topic i.e. death penalty.

The plot, in summary:

A spellbinding tale of a mother's tragic loss and one man's last chance at gaining salvation.
Can we save ourselves, or do we rely on others to do it? Is what we believe always the truth?
One moment June Nealon was happily looking forward to years full of laughter and adventure with her family, and the next, she was staring into a future that was as empty as her heart. Now her life is a waiting game. Waiting for time to heal her wounds, waiting for justice. In short, waiting for a miracle to happen. For Shay Bourne, life holds no more surprises. The world has given him nothing, and he has nothing to offer the world. In a heartbeat, though, something happens that changes everything for him. Now, he has one last chance for salvation, and it lies with June's eleven-year-old daughter, Claire. But between Shay and Claire stretches an ocean of bitter regrets, past crimes, and the rage of a mother who has lost her child.
Would you give up your vengeance against someone you hate if it meant saving someone you love?
Would you want your dreams to come true if it meant granting your enemy's dying wish?

Without revealing much, Shay Bourne's character may be one of her most interesting one yet, and probably my most favourite to date.

Do read this Change Of Heart!

.: Keeping Faith :.

2012-01-23T21:52:00.002+08:00

Involuntarily, she recalls the Sunday-school legend of King Solomon. When two women claimed they were both mother of one baby, he suggested cutting the infant in half with a sword, to discover which parent would relinquish her claim on the child rather than see it hurt. Textbook wisdom: problem solved, and no drop of blood shed. But that was just a story. In the real world, often both parents were completely worthy, or completely unworthy. In the real world, there were mitigating circumstances. In the real world, children were often the ones who swept up the messes their parents had left behind.

Jodi Picoult - Keeping Faith

Keeping Faith is about a little girl who, in the wake of a family crisis, develops an imaginary friend who turns out to be God. And female. In this chapter, Faith and her mother Mariah realize that their lives are about to change: a cult takes up residence on the front lawn to uphold Faith as the new Messiah; and a Winnebago arrives bearing the infamous Ian Fletcher, an athiest with a television pulpit, who's come to prove that Faith is a hoax. But then she works a miracle…

Sidenote : Characters of Ian, Mariah & Faith in this novel makes an appearance in Jodi's other novel called Change Of Heart.

.: Feelin Blue :.

2012-01-20T23:12:00.000+08:00

Feelin a lil blue. Pretty unexplainable, and I will leave that at that.

.: Aesop Fables :.

2012-01-14T11:07:00.000+08:00

Recently have had Aesop Fables on my ELibrary and was reading it last night, much to my husband's amusement. Both knowingly and unknowingly, I have read a couple of Aesop fables during my younger days. It is, afterzll, one of the more preferred choice of indirect moral education back in my days. For e.g. The fable of The Hare and The Tortoise or The Boy Who Cried Wolf (which is known as The Shepherd Boy and The Wolf), I believe, still remains popular until today. The less popular ones, which brings back memories of my childhood reading days includes The Bear and The Two Travellers, The Lion and The Mouse, The Dog and The Shadow, etc just to name a few. What surprises me even more is those unread tales, and the moral of the stories, which are very applicable, even more so especially for adults - of life, of friends, or businesses or of work, etc. I find it really amusing of each parables and how I can even relate to some of it. I read some to my husband, to prove his assumptions wrong that the Aesop Fables are merely "children's bedtime stories". Will be sharing some of these fables soon. Now, back to my reading.

.: Giveaway Alert :.

2012-01-13T10:50:00.005+08:00

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.: New Year's Eve :.

2012-01-13T09:04:00.000+08:00

It's suspended there to remind us before we pop the champagne and celebrate the new year, to stop and reflect on the year that has gone by. To remember both our triumphs and our missteps, our promises made and broken. The times we opened ourselves up to great adventures or closed ourselves down for fear of getting hurt coz that is what new years is all about- getting another chance. A chance to forgive, to do better, to do more, to give more, to love more. And stop worrying about what if and start embracing what would be. So when that ball drops at midnight and it will drop, let's remember to be nice to each other, kind to each other. And not just tonight but all year long.

- Claire Morgon : New Year's Eve -

If you haven't catch this movie, you should! It's really heart-warming and really makes you reflect.

.: Fifty-Fifty :.

2012-01-12T23:02:00.002+08:00

You know it's never fifty-fifty in a marriage. It's always seventy-thirty, or sixty-forty. Someone falls in love first. Someone puts someone else up on a pedestal. Someone works very hard to keep things rolling smoothly; someone else sails along for the ride.

- Jodi Picoult : Mercy -

.: Reading :.

2012-01-11T18:52:00.002+08:00

Any book that helps a child to form a habit of reading, to make reading one of his deep and continuing needs, is good for him - Maya Angelou -

I am an avid book reader. It must have been because my parents have been reading to me since I was a toddler. I remember that my parents were proud of the fact that I can read a book by the age of three – tho they still am skeptical whether I memorized the words, or actually know how to read the book itself. They claimed that I do know how to point to each word and read them out correctly, but somehow they thought it was impossible for their daughter to be too intelligent at that age, perhaps they must be thinking the apple couldn’t possibly fall far from the apple tree *sneaky grin*

And tho my parents did encourage me to read at a very young age, for some odd reasons, they weren’t as encouraging as they were when I started schooling. Perhaps they wanted me to pay more attention to reading my school textbooks than story books. So, unlike some friends, I didn’t really have the luxury of a big library at home. But that didn’t stop me from reading. My favorite back in those days were novels such as Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys, which I can get aplenty from my primary school library! I read a couple of Enid Blyton books too, which I thoroughly enjoy, but nothing was more enjoyable that the detective series. I remember that I will be rushing home to finish the last few chapters of my Nancy Drews and sometimes, much to my mom’s displeasure, read till the wee hours of the morning.

Oh, and yes, perhaps my parents are right to ‘restrain’ me from more books. My homework barely gets done (except for those whom I know the teachers WILL punish – Pn.Devi for one!). I can skip lunch and/or dinner just to catch a few pages. I even read in between commercial when watching TV! Surprisingly, as much as Sweet Valley was ‘in-trend’ at that moment, it never really caught on to me. I also have had some friends who were crazy over manga’s like Sailor Moon, Inuyasha, etc, but I wasn’t really such a big fan either.

Then in secondary school days, I would read whatever I can get my hands on in the school library, and one of the privilege of being a school librarian back in my days is that I get to loan six books instead of three books! Bliss! :)

Nowadays, I realize that I have less time to spare on reading. However, I do make it a point to go to the library as frequent as I could. On average, I would read about a book a week. Which translate to about 50ish book a year. Sometimes, on a good week, I would be able to complete three to four books, but on a bad busy period, it could go on without reading a book for a month. Aside from the books I get from the library, I have also been subscribing to Readers Digest, so I get a book every month.

I must say that 50ish book a year is quite good, given that the average book a Malaysia would read is about 2 books per annum. I, however, must confess that the “quality” of books I read may not be there as I prefer to have “light” books to read as oppose to deeper, reading-for-knowledge books. I suppose to a certain extend, I rather be reading something enjoyable and use less and less of my brain cells, especially prior to bed time, rather than books that triggers me to think. The last thing I need is to be a catalyst for my already hyperactive-brain.

I have also discovered EBooks of late, I mean I have heard of it, it's just that I only started downloading EBooks ever since I got my IPad 2, a birthday gift from Daddy. Not really used to it, coz it just can't beat reading the book in an old fashion way. But we will see if I can get the hang of it!

.: What Makes One Strong? :.

2012-01-09T18:13:00.001+08:00

“Some people think it's holding on that makes one strong- sometimes it's letting go.”

It is true that it is not easy to let go. And it does take much more bravery & courage to let go than it takes to hold on. I recalled of how Abraham was so faithful and obedient to God that he is willing to let go his ONLY son Issac to the hands of God. For a man at that age, after years of trying for a child, it really takes such great courage but even greater faith to let go of something so precious to him.

And perhaps the beginning of this year is a reminder of how I must continue to learn to be faithful and put my whole trust in Him. And that sometimes, it is only when one moves out of one’s comfort zone in obedience that one truly learn to let go one’s grip and reach out one’s hands into the arms of God. Not easy, but it is something that I have been reminded time and again to do.

.: Parents :.

2012-01-08T21:42:00.000+08:00

Parents hold their children's hands for a while... their hearts forever.

.: Super Me :.

2012-01-06T18:53:00.000+08:00

I can't stand to fly

I'm not that naive

I'm just out to find

The better part of me

I'm more than a bird,

I'm more than a plane

I'm more than some pretty face beside a train

And it's not easy to be me

Wish that I could cry

Fall upon my knees

Find a way to lie

About a home I'll never see

It may sound absurd, but don't be naive

Even heroes have the right to bleed

I may be disturbed, but won't you concede

Even heroes have the right to dream

It's not easy to be me

Up, up and away, away from me

It's all right, you can all sleep sound tonight

I'm not crazy, or anything

I can't stand to fly

I'm not that naive

Girls weren't meant to ride

With clouds between their knees

I'm only a girl in a silly red sheet

Digging for kryptonite on this one way street

Only a girl in a funny red sheet

Looking for special things inside of me

Inside of me

Inside me

Yeah, inside me

Inside of me

I'm only a girl

In a funny red sheet

I'm only a girl

Looking for a dream

I'm only a girl

In a funny red sheet

And it's not easy

Its not easy to be me

.: Unwind & Embrace :.

2012-01-06T00:25:00.000+08:00

It's been a emotionally tough day for me.

Unwinding to Sabrina's Accoustic Albums.

Until I can find my foot on the ground again, or at least my head back, I will be in this state. Prayerfully all will be well soon. And prayerfully I will embrace this change.

.: Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows :.

2011-12-28T13:13:00.000+08:00

It was a no brainer when I had to choose between the much anticipated Sherlock Holmes : A Game of Shadows or The Darkest Hour (two choices of FREE movie tickets on the SAME day. *sigh*). Benedict is right to point out that The Darkest Hour may be to sci-fi for my liking.

No regrets tho, for picking Sherlock Holmes, as I did enjoy the movie so very much.

If you are die-hard Sherlock purist, you would say that the role played is nothing of that as potrayed in the novel. Well, it isn't and it is the way it was meant to be. I said it once (in the first Sherlock Holmes movie), I'd said it again, ex-Mr. Madonna aka Guy Ritchie did a brilliant job in reinventing the prim & proper Sherlock Holmes as depicted by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle in his novels into a more pompous character, carried really well by Robert Downey Jr.

Shoving Watson's bride off a train (on their way to their honeymoon at that), attempt to kill Watson's dog (for the umpteenth time), trying out his urban camoufludge suit, and the series of disguises carried out kept me laughing again and again.

No disappointment in the movie narration either - the scene was not too long and draggy, nor was it too brief and cut-short. I loved the computer-game style CGI too!

If you liked the first film, you would LOVE this one!

Official summary of this movie as below :

Sherlock Holmes has always been the smartest man in the room... until now. There is a new criminal mastermind at large—Professor Moriarty—and not only is he Holmes' intellectual equal, but his capacity for evil, coupled with a complete lack of conscience, may actually give him an advantage over the renowned detective. When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead, the evidence, as construed by Inspector Lestrade, points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder—a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle, designed by Professor Moriarty. The cunning Moriarty is always one step ahead of Holmes as he spins a web of death and destruction—all part of a greater plan that, if he succeeds, will change the course of history.

.: Counting Down To Christmas Day :.

2011-12-20T12:40:00.002+08:00

Currently reading : Jodi Picoult's Mercy

Current tune playing in my head : Bruno Mar's It Will Rain

Current series which I can't wait to watch : How I Met Your Mother - Did Barney really marry Robin?

Current baking objective : Christmas sugar cookies

Current mood : Melancholy

I know I have taken a very long hiatus from blogging with only 2 blogs, well 3 including this one for the month (my average is about 20-ish to 30-ish). There's plenty to express, but again, just the unwillingness to share on blog, or even face to face with my other half or closer friends. Looking back the whole year, I wonder if I really have achieved much this year? Perhaps not as much as I would like myself to. Many who knows me says that I tend to push myself too hard & have incredibly high expectations of myself. I disagree tho. I always thought that I have a fairly standard sets of expectation for myself. Anyhows, hope the mood will improve in days. Afterall, I am looking forward to spending Christmas this year with loved ones back in Malacca & friends. It could, afterall, be my last Christmas celebration here.

.: Dear Sixteen Year Old Me :.

2011-12-15T14:41:00.006+08:00

Dear Sixteen Year Old Me…

Happy Birthday! You have just celebrated your sweet sixteen! Not exactly a birthday that will be featured on MTV’s My Super Sweet Sixteen, but with family members (as you have always had in the past). You will, regardless the small birthday do, feel totally blessed, and you will continue to feel so in your future birthday celebrations with them. You have never been a big fan of big celebrations/parties and will continue to have these small celebrations with daddy, mummy & Ben for other milestone birthdays – your 18th, your 21st. Not too sure bout your big 3-0 tho, coz I (the future you) am still not there yet.

So, what is next for you? You will be sitting for your SPM in months time! Just wanna tell you not to sweat it! You’re gonna do reasonably well (straight As!) but so what, it’s just a piece of paper which nobody probably cares five years down the road (alongside with other papers that you will be collecting soon). You will be wondering what the future holds for you. And you will be attending career fairs after career fairs, walk-in college counseling, career-compatibility test and end of the day, you’d be more confused when you started off. You will, eventually, narrow down those two choices between engineering & accountancy. Engineering, because of your passion for physics and mathematics. And accountancy, not only because you can master that subject in your SPM, but because the practical-side of you says that with this qualification, you will have a wider job opportunities. There is some truth in that, and, to let the cat out of the bag, you choose the latter. Not that all your post-SPM college-shopping has wasted your time, fret not. On the contrary, you will indirectly learn much, and later on in your life, you will be able to counsel and guide many others in their career paths (some even came back to you to thank you for that!)

The road to your accountancy professional qualification may not be easy. And there will be times that you just want to throw in the towel and give up. I share your frustration, but just hang in there, good things are yet to come! You will (finally!) graduation from this professional qualification and funnily enough, you would voluntarily take another professional qualification. I know, I know, may sound absurd, but trust me, God has bigger plans for us! Tell you more where that leads you in a bit.

You will start working with one of the Big 4 at the age of nineteen. Yes, you will be the youngest among your peer, and perhaps, because of this, you will struggle at the initial part of your career. You will be envious of your ex-schoolmate which, at this point in time, will be probably starting the first year of uni, while you are slaving in the corporate world over deadlines, adapting to the quirks of different bosses as well as getting used to the long hours. You’d probably shed tears, lose sleep (but sadly, you will NOT lose weight, but rather, put on a few pounds!) and you’d be wondering what’s wrong with you that you cannot cope. I just want to console you and tell you that it is NOT your fault. And no, the rest of your working life wouldn’t be like this uphill battle that you are trying to fight. And I know that you rub off everyone’s advise that ‘it will get better’, but it’s true – it WILL get better. You will struggle in your decision as to stay on or leave, but eventually, you will hear a loud audible voice from God (your first encounter with God!) to go. And with that peace in your heart, you will leave. Not earlier, not later. But on that time. Timing is essential, you will not understand now, but you will eventually look back and realize what a marvelous God he is to have this perfect plan written out for you!

You will join another organization, and you would LOVE working there (at least more love than hate!). You will meet with great bosses, who will shape you and mould you to the person I am today! You will learn and pick many skills, a lot that you would not have picked up in your audit days! And partly because of this, you will do particularly well in your final professional examination papers. You will pass these papers (as much as you will helplessly struggle with them!). And it will boost your career a lil bit, and eventually, you will do reasonably well in your career life. Something you may not expect after your encounter with your first job, but yes, you will get there. Be patient!

Oh yes, you would have recently had your heart broken. And I know that it hurts! Especially more so because it’s our first love. But like the song goes, first cut is the deepest. And, like all heartaches & heartbreaks, your heart will eventually heal. So it’s ok. Cry it out! Write about it! Express it through playing the piano! Do what you need to do, and *big hugz* you will survive this! You will meet someone, who will expedite your healing process, and you will eventually learn to love again. Cliché, I know. But that’s how life is, full of clichés! And you will be in the next relationship for a fairly long time, for three years plus, but it wouldn’t work out in the end. You’d probably by then be swearing off men, jokingly telling everyone that you will be a lesbo and tell yourself that you will not settle down and want to travel and see the world. Pssst, let you in on a secret tho. You will meet someone else. And…. You will end up marrying him! I know you probably won’t believe it, and cannot imagine yourself to finally settle down, but yes. You will. And the day you walk down the church aisle, you will feel something you have never felt in your heart before. It will feel stronger than the butterflies in your stomach. It will outshine the thumping beats of your heart. And yes, you will finally marry the love of your life (no, you didn’t ran off from cold feet). I will let you savor that moment without revealing too much. But, just remember to ask your bridesmaid to have some tissues ready. Yes, you will cry on your wedding day (no matter how hard you try not to!). Oh, word of advise - it wouldn’t hurt to start dreaming of your wedding day now. It will allow you to be more prepared when you start planning the day as I have absolutely no vision of how the day should turn out!

Your husband-to-be (my husband-already-is) will not be exactly the kind of guy that will sweep you off your feet. He will be one of the more unromantic, straightforward person you have met. How you, I mean we, end up marrying him still remains a mystery until this very day *grins*. Where will you meet him you ask? Well, you will bump into each other on your first day of work. He’s your batchmate you see. Yes, another accountant. How boring, you say? Tell me bout it! You guys will hit it off immediately, as in you will be great friends! At this point, you are still attached to someone else and he has his eye on another. You will see more of each other when both of you take the same professional papers (see, told you that there was something that came out of the second qualification aside from the paper). It is when the both of you became much closer, and like they say it, the rest is history! I must warn you that it wouldn’t be smooth sailing from all the way. And life is more like a bed of thorns than roses for the both of you. You guys will fight at each other. You guys will shout and scream at each other. Fall short of strangling at each other throat. But throughout these times is where you learn more bout each other, and more bout youself. Both of you learn to compromise. Learn to give and take. And of coz, the future you is still learning all these along our married life!

Oh, you will finally have a place where you can call your own – well technically you both have to share it! And no, he lied about the puppy that he will get you once you move in with him (smack him for me when you meet him, will you?) You will have to share a bed with him (sad, I know) and yes, he snores too! Being married will probably take away much time, and you will be too busy to be organizing get together with your ex-schoolmates by now, but do remember them ok?

And, speaking of ex-schoolmates, you’d be surprise to know that you will still keep in touch with a few of them. And the crazy bunch of girls you have befriended with in Form 3 will end up being your ji muis on your wedding day. And sadly, they will be more engrossed trying to find ways to torture you during your hen’s night rather than the torture the groom and his heng tais on your wedding date. You will keep in touch via email as many of them will be all over the place. But you will love them as much as (or even more so) you have in your secondary school days! There will be some fall-out, there will be those you are very close with, but sadly, you will lose touch.

Speaking of fallouts, you will have plenty of those with Mummy. I know that being at this age, there are plenty of things you want to be done your way, and being obstinate just like Mummy, there are plenty of clashes throughout the years. Just a word of advise, try to be as patient as you can be, hold your tongue and more importantly, try not to let your temper run lose. Yes, her words might hurt you, but just remember, she loves you as much as you love her, and though sometimes you may question if it is true, it is true. She loves you! And when you move out, you are gonna realize how much you miss her. Oh, and daddy’s not getting you a pony or a puppy for your 26th birthday, but you’d love what he gave you anyhows! Yes, daddy is still gonna be the same, he’s gonna get on your nerves once in a while, but all will be forgotten really fast!

Kong-kong passed away after his long battle with cancer. And you will miss him very dearly. It's ok that you will tear whenever you think of him and is missing him. I still do now, And, you will make a promise to him in a few years time. I can't remember the exact year, but it will be during Chinese New Year's eve, and it will be before the discovery of his stomach cancer. You will be taking this promise very seriously, and will try your utmost best to fulfill this promise. You will encounter times where you would want to give up, and there are nights that you would cry, wondering if you had fail him, wondering if you could keep that very promise that you have made. It is not easy, and I know that you will feel that giving it up is the best solution. But hang in there. Sleep over it, forget about the disappointments and the frustrations you will encounter. Always remember that the title 'jie' does come with this burden and responsibility. Be proud that he trust you to keep this wish of his. Never forget that!

Dear Sixteen Year Old Me,

I have so much to tell you. There are times where I wished I had made better decisions with our life. There are things which I wished I have done or not do. Mistakes that I have made throughout these years. But no, I won’t stop you from making those mistakes. They are, afterall, what makes us to be who we are today. I just want you to just enjoy life the way it should be enjoyed. And no worries, looking back, I have absolutely no regrets of the choices we have made – be it the right choices or the wrong choices. And I am pretty sure there are plenty of good things that lies ahead!

See you in a couple of years (more like in a decade from now)!

Lots of love & hugs & kisses,

Twenty Six Year Old You

.: December Time :.

2011-12-14T10:32:00.001+08:00

It’s been an eventful month.

Gone to and returned from Melb for a two weeks holiday.

Celebrate my 26th birthday.

And yes, Christmas is but just about 2 weeks away.

Oh, not forgetting that Chinese New Year is only a month to go.

I have so much to pen out. Yet, I just feel like leaving those words unspoken (or in this case – unwritten).

December – A time to celebrate (party!) but also a time of solitude. A time to reflect. A time to plan forward

Happy December!

.: Breaking Dawn (Part 1) :.

2011-11-25T10:20:00.000+08:00

Ok, so I got to admit that I’m probably not the biggest of Twilight’s fan.

I suppose I form part of the small percentage of girl-who-has-not-read-twilight saga series (tho I heard that the book is way better than the movie & is definitely worth the read).

I really hated the first Twilight movie.

The second saga, New Moon was better than the first movie, but it was still terrible. The only consolation was : Jacob Black. He’s just as cute as a button with body as buff as can be. *dreamy eyes* Even better was his acting skill where I felt that there was at least some chemistry going on between Jacob & Bella. Even though Patterson & Stewart are real life lovers, they just can’t seem to bring their off-screen romance on-screen. Sad.

The third of the saga, Eclipse was forgettable.

And last night, watched Breaking Dawn Part 1. The show started with (if you have watched the trailer, you would know what I am narrating) Jacob storming out from his house. It was raining, he took of his shirt, exposing a drool-worthy nicely chiseled body and ran off – causing many cinema-goers (including myself *hehe*) to squeal in delight! And the Ben whispered to me that this is gonna be the ONLY time Jacob takes off his shirt.

At first I thought that Ben was joking, but at the end of the show, I have to say disappointingly that he is right. So, you can imagine the anticipation I had throughout the movie being crushed right at the end.

Also the other thing that I was looking out was The Wedding Dress. Read somewhere that the famous wedding dress designer (Caroline Herrara) has been replicated by Alfred Angelo (who did a collaboration of Disney range of princess gown) for a price of $799 to those Twilighters (Twilight die hard fans). It wasn’t exactly as classic as I thought it would be, but I suppose this Edwardian-inspired wedding gown has caught many attention and apparently it is being retailed at many shops worldwide. Oh, but I love the wedding venue at the Cullen's backyard. So romantic and dreamy. Really, really lovely!

All in all, it wouldn’t be a movie that I would watch. There were some hilarious parts here and there, but that's about as entertaining as the movie can get. Again, this is being slightly bias. But I suppose if you are an avid fan, you would be catching the movie soon – either dragging The (poor) Boyfriend or make it a girls day out with the bffs or both!

.: It's Only Words :.

2011-11-23T14:34:00.002+08:00

Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes the human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning

- Maya Angelou –

Describe someone you just met in one word. Or someone close to you whom you hold dear to your heart in one sentence. Or limit yourself to 20 words description of your best-est friend. Or to tell the whole wide twitternetizen in 140 words what this person means to you. Post a shoutout on Facebook to him/her. Or write a blogpost dedicated to your dearest.

Sometimes, words don’t come easy when you want to express exactly what you want to say to a person. In a funeral, when someone delivers a eulogy, I cry not because of the words spoken, but rather the unspoken words. When I wanna tell my best-est friends how much they mean to me, of the one billion vocabularies that I choose from, all I can say is “I MISS YOU GUYS!”. Or I get choked up with my words when I want to tell my parents how much I love them.

Sigh. I actually ran out of words I want to express in this post.

So, till another time.

Ta.

.: The Good Side :.

2011-11-18T18:58:00.002+08:00

You wake up to life. You appreciate everything about life, but especially family and friends. You become very humble very fast, which is timely since the feeling that there is a God watching over us suddenly becomes very, very real. You are without a doubt going to face the toughest battle anyone on earth has ever faced. Keep your chin up and come out swinging, people will acknowledge your spirit, your courage, strength and stamina. The purpose of this life may in fact be
1) to experience life,
2) to learn our hard lessons about the battles between good and evil, and
3) to forever learn to have faith, trust and believe in our God.

A church member was diagnosed with Stage 2 brain cancer at only 16. I'm tearing as I read more on what this malignant brain tumour is all about. So what if I'm sitting at a busy walkway in KLCC. My heart goes out to him and his family. As I read the above quote from a person suffering from brain tumor, I can only pray for this boy, Chris, to continue to be strong in faith and to put his whole trust & believe to God.

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.: Kings & Queen Comedy Asia 2 :.

2011-11-18T12:31:00.000+08:00

They say laughter is the BEST medicine…

I do hope that tonight, with the Kings & Queen of Comedies with 5 of the world’s funniest Asian comedians – King Paul Ogata, Queen Joanne Kam, King Harith Iskandar, King Vivek & King Sugar Sammy, that I will be completely cured of my flu (been feeling under the weather of late)

Many thanks to MY Destination Kuala Lumpur for TWO GOLD TICKETS to catch this show tonight 8.30pm at Plenary Hall, KL Convention Center with JC.

.: I Wish :.

2011-11-17T23:27:00.001+08:00

I wish that someone can just tell me that everything will be alright.

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.: Back With More Giveaways! :.

2011-11-17T22:05:00.000+08:00

I-Lashes giveaway here

Jen's Giveaway here

Perfectly Polished here

Tirnaklar Fora giveaway here

HandmadeMN giveaway here

Adventures in Makeup giveaway here

Lea's Pretty Little World giveaway here

Piece of Pie 250+ giveaway here

Inspired by Beauty giveaway here

Shadow's Nail Art Giveaway here

Lipgloss Love Affair Giveaway here

.: Thoughts of A Migrained Mind :.

2011-11-17T18:40:00.000+08:00

My writing style has changed substantially since I first started blogging. Or so I think. I used to be more expressive, but now, I’ve toned down a lot.

Having said that, I am a very private person, so tho I reveal much in my blog, but there’s tons more that I choose to keep it private. There are plenty of thoughts & things I would like to express, but there are certain things that after thinking through, I believe it is best that I do not write (or type it down). There are certain things that I, though I don’t share in this blog, I share with those closer to me. And then there are things that I completely keep it to myself.

I used to write more “fluently”, or so I thought I did. But now, I couldn’t really care less if my spellings, tenses or grammars are wrong or if my string of words that forms a so-called sentence doesn’t make sense. Who cares really? Afterall, this is meant to be the thoughts of my mind, and let me tell you, my mind ain’t such an organize place to begin with.

I am having a bad migraine now, which is probably the best time to write something/anything, coz that would mean that my brain stops thinking (you mean that its even capable of thinking?) and I just go on with random rants.

I have had been presented with many choices and decisions to make. And up until recently, problems and conflicts to be solved. Choices, decisions, problems & conflicts that probably people my age haven’t even face. Sometimes I wish I could stop being so mature so fast so soon. I talk to some people my age and look at their naiveness & innocents and wonder why I couldn’t enjoy such luxury? Yes, I call these lil things luxury, because the more you know the more you wished you never knew.

.: Happy Feet 2 :.

2011-11-16T22:18:00.000+08:00

I have been watching some pretty great movies of late (Immortals, The Adventures of TinTin, In Time) and do I have another to add to that list.

Happy Feet 2 was just as good as Happy Feet that I watched in a dingy cinema in Miri during my audit days, if not better.

With hilarious cast from the past like *cough* the ladies man Ramon (Robbie Williams) and new ones like Will & Bill the Krill (Matt Damon & Brad Pitt), I just completely fell for this movie. Oh, and how can you not love those absolutely adorable fluffy baby penguins that just wants to make you turn to your dad/mom/husband as ask "Can I have a pet penguin please? Can I, can I?"

Summary : Returning to the landscapes of Antarctica,Happy Feet 2 centers on a grown-up Mumble (Elijah Wood), a tap-dancing penguin whose tiny son Erik has yet to find his own niche. Reluctant to dance, Erik runs away with a couple friends, following the lovestruck Ramon (Robin Williams). Together, they stumble across a mighty puffin named Sven (Hank Azaria), mistaken for a penguin who can fly.

When an ice shelf collapses and traps the rest of the penguins in a valley, Mumble works to save his wife Gloria (pop star Pink, replacing the late Brittany Murphy, and billed by both her given name and stage name) and the rest of the many penguins, eventually recruiting both different penguin nations and other animals.

The cast was through & through entertaining, the jokes (though lame) kept us laughing and laughing. The songs & musical of different genres was just too awesome that just makes you wanna tap your feet (especially Papa Oom Maw Maw) and go *awwww...* whenever they feature the cute lil fluffy baby penguins. Pink's voice was just great when she did a solo part of Bridge of Light. Super powerful vocal I tell you!

Storyline is pretty much predicable (no spoiler if I were to tell that everything ended with a "happily ever after").

Oh, another must mention is the hilarious sideline is Will & Bill the Krill with Krillion of jokes that you can just have to laugh.

All in all, a what JC would call a "feel good movie". I wouldn't mind catching it a second time!

.: Project Umbrella :.

2011-11-13T14:28:00.003+08:00

Finally, JC fixed an appointment with his insurance agent to meet up with us last night, after weeks and weeks of delaying this meeting.

We knew it is important to have sufficient coverage given the increase in medical cost this days. The insurance agent had a look at my existing policy(which my parents have bought for me back in the earlier days) and suggested a few top ups as well as new policies to ensure that I was sufficiently covered. JC also reviewed his policies and made some top up as well.

Made a call to my brother to discuss with him since he had met up with a couple of insurance agents from different insurance companies so he would more or less know the similarity and dissimilarity between all. He concluded that it was about the same for most insurance companies as well as pointed out to a few point we need to take note of. In his opinion, it is best to have a wider coverage on critical illness as given the nature of his job where he knows how expensive these medication & treatment cost that it may come up to. Fact : at least one out of five women suffer from breast cancer. Fact : the cost if one vial of chemotherapy dosage can cost up to RM30k, where there are about 6 dosages per treatment. His fact scares me so much so that I have increase my critical illness policy higher than proposed.

At the end of the day, I do know of some people who still are ignorant about insuring themselves. Worse still is that there are some who does not believe in insurance, be it because of religious reasons or what not. Again, its a personal choice for these individuals, but for me, getting sufficiently insured is a must to protect not only myself but my family (from unexpected liabilities in the future)

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.: Immortals :.

2011-11-10T19:14:00.000+08:00

All men's soul are immortal,

But the soul of the righteous are immortal and divine.

Many will be catching the first screening of Immortals in Malaysia tomorrow 11.11.11.

But I was the lucky few to get to watch it last night, thanks to Joe!

Together with Joe, hig gf (Felicia), Ben & other lucky people, we got pretty good seats at Tropicana City Mall (TCM) to catch Immortals.

The movie basically revolves around the brutal & bloodthirsty King Hyperion, a Titan (portrayed by Mickey Rourke) and his Heraklion army rampaging across Greece in search of the legendary Epirus Bow. With utterly brutal and ruthless efficiency, Hyperion and his bloodthirsty army of soldier went on to destroy everything in their wake to in search for this invincible Bow. For with that Bow, King Hyperion will be able to unleash the Titans, who have been imprisoned by the Gods.

But as the ancient law dictates, the Gods must not interfere in man’s conflict, so they could only watch with despair.

As villages after villages are being destroyed, innocent citizens being killed, a stonemason named Theseus (portrayed by , which was secretly chosen & trained by Zeus, vows to avenge the death of his beloved mother who was slain in one of Hyperion’s raids.

Thesues meets with the Sybelline Virgin Oracle, Phaedra, with her visions of the future, believe that Thesues is the key to stop the annihilation of King Hyperion.

It was really a good movie. I was gripping to the chair from the beginning to the end. And there was plenty of gory & gruesome scenes during the slayings & battles. Not a movie for the weakhearted. And yes, I did cringe at one particular scene where they Lysanders was being “deseeded” (for a lack better word?). Man, that was mean!

What some may say; if you’ve loved 300, you’d love Immortals. The things is, I have not watched 300 *shame* and find this movie really enjoyable. Highly recommended!

.: What Would Puss In Boots Do? :.

2011-11-08T19:33:00.002+08:00

If I were Puss In Boots, I will defeat the BAD GUYS by

Sharpening my eagle eyes

Building up some kitty muscles

I would be a master of disguise *looky, im a wabbit*

Learn to camouflage *spot (pun intended) me*

Use my gun if I need to

But most of all, I need my cat nap for me to think straight!
*minimum of 5 hours nap, nothing less*

MEOWWWWWWWW

And with all the skills above, I am definately sure that the bad guys will be defeated by me! :)

Thanks to Nuffnang & United International Pictures Malaysia for sponsoring this giveaway to 25 pairs of lucky bloggers to catch the premiere screening of Puss in Boots on the 22nd of November.

Psstt, wanna win yourself movie tickets, iPhone and even an iPad? Here's how. Just help puss hunt down the Golden Goose & his Golden eggs. Once you have spotted them, take a picture and upload to Facebook & you will be rewarded handsomely!

For more contest info, click here!

.: Project Status Update :.

2011-11-06T23:04:00.000+08:00

So, here's a quick update of all the on-going projects

1) Project Casa - We've just gotten the draft S&P from our lawyers and will have a look at it, and if all's well and agreeable by both parties, we will be signing it end of next week, or early the week after. Meanwhile, for the financing bit, we have narrowed down to two banks who will be competing in terms of interest rates.

2) Project Scribe - Which is basically keeping all our documentations in place for all previous projects as well as on going projects (I just HATE filing, don't ya?) I would say that it's 50% completed. JC choose this project name because scribe is a person who keeps tracks of records back in those ancient Egypt days. As you can see, I would not have made a very good scribe. So, yeah, half done, half more to go!

3) Project Umbrella - Project Umbrella is basically re-evalutate and replanning of our insurance policy, given the new debt we have recently undertake for the purchase of our residential property plus our investment property (hence we will be looking into MLTA) as well as topping up our life insurance coverage. For the time being, we have not talked to any insurance agent just yet, but we plan to get this done with as soon as possible.

4) Project Moo-Moo - Although with the recent economical situation, the fall in the KLSE index has not been that great a dip that the equity prices are dirt cheap and attractive. So, while JC will still be keeping on a look-out for any bargains, this project will be left on review mode for the time being. Why project Moo-Moo? Bull & bear? Geddit? :)

But no matter what project we are to undertake, we will give all thanks and glory to God for His wisdom and guidance in helping us make decisions along the way. Afterall, we may plan the course, but is it God Himself that determines our steps.

.: Bruno Mars : Count On Me (1,2,3) :.

2011-11-03T22:05:00.001+08:00

Dedicated to all my besties, you know who you are! *wink*

If you ever find yourself stuck in the middle of the sea

I'll sail the world to find you

If you ever find yourself lost in the dark and you can't see

I'll be the light to guide you

Find out what we're made of

What we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like one, two, three

I'll be there and I know when I need it

I can count on you like four, three, two

And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends are supposed to do, oh yeah,

ooh, ooh

If you toss and you turn and you just can't fall asleep

I'll sing a song beside you

And if you ever forget how much you really mean to me

Everyday I will remind you

Find out what we're made of

What we are called to help our friends in need

You can count on me like one, two, three

I'll be there and I know when I need it

I can count on you like four, three, two

And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends

Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh, yeah, yeah

You'll always have my shoulder when you cry

I'll never let go, never say goodbye

You can count on me like one, two, three

I'll be there and I know when I need it

I can count on you like four, three, two

And you'll be there 'cause that's what friends

Are supposed to do, oh yeah, ooh, ooh

You can count on me 'cause I can count on you

.: The Adventure Of TinTin :.

2011-11-03T19:49:00.000+08:00

Was a lil worried when a small fire broke out in GSC Midvalley on Tuesday mainly because I won two tickets to watch the premiere of the Adventure of TinTin in 3D.

Thankfully all was resolved and the show did go on as planned.

Benedict & I were arrived fairly early to the cinema (3rd row from the front!) to be entertained by a lil girl and her even younger brother. They were skipping and terrorizing the stage, asking out loud "when will the BIG TV be switched on?". Ben & I wanted to help and looked around, but couldn't find the BIG REMOTE to switch on the BIG TV. Ok, sounds lame typing it, but it was so hilarious at that point.

A brief narration of the movie's story line :

Based on the internationally beloved and irrepressible characters created by Hergé, the story follows the unquenchably curious young reporter Tintin (Jamie Bell) and his fiercely loyal dog Snowy as they discover a model ship carrying an explosive secret. Drawn into a centuries-old mystery, Tintin finds himself in the sightlines of Ivan Ivanovitch Sakharine (Daniel Craig), a diabolical villain who believes Tintin has stolen a priceless treasure tied to dastardly pirate named Red Rackham. But with the help of his dog Snowy, the salty, cantankerous Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) and the bumbling detectives Thompson & Thomson (Simon Pegg and Nick Frost), Tintin will travel half the world, outwitting and outrunning his enemies in a breathless chase to find the final resting place of The Unicorn, a shipwreck that may hold the key to vast fortune… and an ancient curse.

After watching the movie, I concurred with Ben that it was a great movie. The 1 hour 45 minutes movie felt longer than that, but it was not because it was boring. On the contrary, it was high-action, fast-paced and blistering barnacle-y good. Indeed, good ol Steve has manage to spin a good ol Belgium classic comic series into a great family show. I however,slightly disagree with the level of violence coming from a U rated movie.

Snowy

The animation is awesome and was much more appreciated in 3D. The script was fairly good with a bit of a tongue-in-cheek & British humour, but I would say that the animation out-shined the story line for this movie. A cross between Pirates of the Caribbean (themed along ships, treasure & pirates yarr-yarr!) and Avatar (yes, it's THAT level state-of-the-art animation) I would rate this movie 8/10.

.: So True :.

2011-11-02T18:07:00.000+08:00

.: Not-So-Simple Thoughts :.

2011-11-01T16:44:00.000+08:00

Once upon a time we were kids. We had fun. We did things without dwelling so much into the consequences. We ran. We played. We laugh. Hakunamatata no?

Then we grew up. The “fun” is now replaced with "responsibilities". We are now doing things taking into consideration our future, our partners, our parents and much more. We stop running, and started working. We stopped playing, and started strategizing. We stopped laughing altogether (the obligatory polite laughs we make during small talk doesn’t count). In other words, we stopped being kids and we really didn’t live happily ever after now, did we?

I am at this crossroad where I need to make certain critical decisions that will make or break my future. Not as critical as the decision I made 10 months back (Happy 10 monthivarsary dear), but still, a big leap nonetheless.

I hate making decisions. Really, I do. It was never easy for me. And it never got easier now that there is another big stakeholder in my life to consider.

Low risk. Low returns. High risk. High returns. But, I might get burn in the process. Do it now, so that you don’t look back and regret. Stay put, perhaps there’s a bigger fish the next catch. Take it or leave it. Hold on to it as long as you can. Think of your future. Think of our future. Do this now while you are still young. You are still young, why do you need to do this now?

Just some (mind you, some not ALL) of the train of thoughts that run thru my head in my morning drive. That is why in the morning, I am like on autopilot mode all the way from home to my office. And that is also the reason why I have my so-called quiet time in the morning, so that let this train of thoughts just shoots out all the way so at least I have a clearer mind by the time I reach work. Come end of the working day, I will have the next new string of thoughts all the way home and even when I am asleep. The cycle repeats itself the next morning.

So.

Sigh.

It sucks being all grown up doesn’t it?

To make reality even worse, Joel called me aunty in Sunday school last Sunday.

OHH AMM GEE!

.: Contest-Junkie Anonymous :.

2011-10-30T01:04:00.001+08:00

Hi. My name is Kathlynn. I am a contest junkie. I can’t help it. I really can’t. It’s the thrill of getting an email to inform that I have won something. Or that adrenaline-rush when scrolling down the Winner’s list to see my name there.

I really, really am addicted to contests and freebies.

Help!

List of things I have won during the past two years since I started becoming a contest addict:

1) From Nuffnang
- Double passes to Orphan
- Double passes to any movie - DiGi contest (I choose The Ugly Truth)
- Double passes to Surrogates
- Double passes to Law Abiding Citizen
- Double passes to Phobia 2
- Double passes to Ninja Assasin
- Double passes to New Moon (thanks to Yin)
- Double passes to Avatar (thanks to Yin)
- Double passes to Paranormal Activity
- Double passes to Valentines Day
- Double passes to Karate Kid
- Double passes to Eclipse (thanks to Tammie)
- Double passes to Going The Distance
- Double passes to The American (gave away to my brother)
- Double passes to The Social Network
- Double passes to God Of Carnage
- Double passes to Hoodwinked Too : Good Vs Evil
- Double passes to Super 8 (didn't redeem coz I was not well! Damn, heard it was an awesome movie!)
- Double passes to The Adventures of TinTin (3D)

2) From another online contest site
- Double passes to Cold Prey 2 (which I didn’t redeem coz the only screening left at that time was in Johor)
- Double passes to The Time Traveller’s Wife + the novel
- Double passes to Love Happens
- Double passes to The Princess & The Frog
- Double passes to Sherlock Holmes (giving away, coz I'm attending another one)
- Double passes to Did You Hear About The Morgans
- Eight in-season passes (sweet!) - which expired before I could redeem! Damn!
- Double passes to Clash of the Titans
- Double passes to Date Night
- Double passes to When In Rome
- Double passes to I Hate Valentine's Day (did not redeem)
- Double passes to A Nightmare On Elm Street
- Four passes to The Switch
- Double in-season passes to Next Three Days (didn't manage to redeem as I had work to do)
- Double passes to The Green Hornet (didn't redeem coz I didn't even remember entering this contest. Too late *sobs*)
- Double passes to Burlesque
- Double passes to The Rite
- Four passes to X-Men : First Class
- Four passes to Green Lantern (via Benedict)
- Four passes to Mr Popper
- Two passes to In Time
- Two passes to The Darkest Hour

3) Other free stuffs
- Free birthday pass from GSC (so I manage to catch 2012)
- Purse hook (from AliceWonders.com Got Boobies? contest)
- Hi-5 Surprise contest (won on behalf of my colleague's daughter)
- Free KFC, A&W, Pizza Hut, Rasamas meals at various occasions
- Free petrol @ Petronas
- Honeymoon trip for two to Bali (Waka De Umi)
- A dress for Irenelim Fashion
- Free cooking classes by Nineteen Culinary Studio
- Free make up lesson (thanks to Jessying, but didn't have time to redeem *sobs*)
- Jaya Jusco shopping vouchers
- Cufflinks (from Cuffz)
- Esmeria Organic Skincare Set (thanks to Plusizekitten)
- A pair of Nose wedges (thanks to Shelbybaby)
- 120 BH Cosmetic Palette (thanks to Donna Dell)
- Scrabble pendant (thanks to Simple Reviews)
- Bisou Jumbo Cupcake (thanks to TOKL)
- Free beauty products and such for review purposes
- Six tickets to catch Magical Musical at Sunway (thanks to Mix.FM)
- Two tickets to catch Kings & Queen of Comedy Asia 2 (thanks to MyDKualaLumpur)
- Four tickets to catch Aladdin Musical (thanks to Mix.FM)

I mean, it’s mostly movie passes and minor stuff like that, so it’s not like it’s that big of a value, unlike those out there who have won laptops and handphones (the biggest would have to be the honeymoon trip to Bali) and etc.

But you can’t blame me for the thrills I get from winning these lil prize can you? *wink*

.: Moonblushed Tomotoes :.

2011-10-28T07:48:00.001+08:00

Simple recipe to make a great substitute of the very expensive sun-dried tomatoes. Great in flavor, lovely in aglio-oglio, salads, sandwiches and many more...

500g (about 24) on-the-vine cherry or other baby tomatoes
2 teaspoons Maldon salt or 1 teaspoon table salt
1/4 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon dried thyme/dried mixed herbs
2 x 15ml tablespoons olive oil

Method: -

1.Preheat the oven to 220°C/gas mark 7.

2.Cut the tomatoes in half and sit them cut side up in an ovenproof dish. Sprinkle with the salt, sugar, thyme and olive oil.

3.Put them in the oven, and immediately turn it off. Leave the tomatoes in the oven overnight or for a day without opening the door.

.: Lil Boy Turns Three :.

2011-10-27T16:50:00.000+08:00

JohnJohn's turns three!

A bit bummed of the quality (or lack of) of the pics I took due to wrong camera settings. Arg!

.: Adventure With WaMu :.

2011-10-26T17:30:00.000+08:00

The adventure of Kath & Wamu!

Once upon a time, in a land far far away, there lived a girl named Kath and her pet (albeit an imaginary one) named Wamu.

Kath & WaMu loves an adventure.

And their adventure was to travel around the world.

They went to Paris

Crossed the great wall of china

Watched ~~Happy Feet~~ the penguins in the North Pole.

All that without leaving the comfort of home.

Boy, what an adventure!

Ok, so it's kinda lame, but I sure would love to watch the Adventure of TinTin (and his dog Snowy) in cinema, coming soon! :)

.: Project Casa : Financing :.

2011-10-26T11:28:00.002+08:00

So the husband has been shopping around for the best mortgage rates by the various banks in town while daddy has graciously helped us to engage a lawyer to draft the Sale & Purchase (S&P).

The most important thing is to get the S&P done in two weeks time, if not, the 2% earnest money will be forfeited.

As far as the housing loan shopping goes, we currently have HSBC & Maybank (surprisingly) offering a competitive rate. We have eliminated OCBC as their valuation of the property is slightly lower than the former two. We are still shopping til we make our final decision.

So hence, the next few weeks will pretty busy for me. Sigh. When will this rush ever ends?

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.: A Letter To God :.

2011-10-24T18:42:00.000+08:00

While helping up with the arts & craft at the kids Sunday School yesterday, Joel (my cute ring bearer), finished making a beautiful card.

He asked me "Who should we send this to?" even tho it's obviously addressed "To Jesus".

I just smiled and replied "Well, we can send it to God!"

He shouted in glee and then threw his card up with all his might as high as he could to the ceiling as if trying to send it to our Father in heaven.

Adorable much, no?

.: My New Handphone :.

2011-10-23T20:39:00.001+08:00

So like a typical Malaysian, here it goes
*clears throat*
test,test,test
testing 1 2 3...

xoxo
kath

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.: Project Casa : Downpayment :.

2011-10-22T16:50:00.001+08:00

So we have placed in the 2% earnest money today. The clock starts ticking this Monday for us to get the S&P signed in fourteen days time. So, with the high-adrenaline bit of Project Casa completed, we are left with just the paperworks & nitty-gritty details to conclude this project. This is our second investment property in our portfolio and we hope that this portfolio will continue to grow in time to come (under a different project name of course!)

Meantime, we will be launching Project Umbrella & Project Scribe alongside with the dormant Project Moo Moo.

Hopefully these two projects will be concluded as soon as possible! As for Project Moo Moo, it's the husband's forte, so I will just let him handle in for the time being.

.: Project Casa : Negotiation Stage :.

2011-10-21T12:40:00.001+08:00

Project Casa

I, like most women, love a good bargain.

JC, like most men, couldn’t care less.

When we go shopping, especially to places where prices are not fixed, it really frustrates me that JC is willing to pay the first price quoted by the vendor. I, on the other hand, would get the satisfaction of even a RM1 discount. Ok, fine. The RM1 discount may be grossly exaggerated. But what I meant is that I wouldn’t want to pay a price that is higher than what I can get elsewhere.

So when it comes to negotiation of price, it’s usually my forte. And tho I have had some informal training from, in my opinion, the most brutal bargain hunter aka my Mom, I believe that I am nowhere near her skills, but still well within the range of a good bargain hunter.

Anyways, after a few investment props hunting escapade, we manage to secure one that is of a bargain price at a, what we believe, upcoming area. The price of this condo units have already shot up late last year, almost double it’s value from the developer’s price. Believe this price hike is driven by the proposed LRT. Amazing how accessibility to public transport (no matter how much we complain of our Malaysian’s public transportation system) can uplift the value of one’s property.

When we checked out this place, we immediately liked it and decided to place an offer to the agent the next day. After praying about it (most critical step in any decision one make), we quoted a price we believe is fair (after whipping up our NPVs & ROIs & CFSs and what not). The agent became our mediator in this battlefield, where the owner tries to yield as much as they can get and the buyer to squeeze down as much as they can afford. In the end, it was a short battle. And both party sealed the deal at a pretty much what I would call a good bargain price. JC was quite surprise that we manage to lock in at this price, coz he was, at his end, more than willing to pay slightly more. I on the other hand was more firmed with the initial price that we offered.

Now I pray that the S&P and loan securing process will be as smooth as this negotiation process.

Oh ya, and I am off to shop for a new diamond ring from the money that I will get from JC on the ‘savings’ I worked for from this negotiation (told ya I can nego, JC!) :)

.: Real Steel :.

2011-10-20T15:52:00.000+08:00

A gritty, white-knuckle, action ride set in the near-future where the sport of boxing has gone high-tech, Real Steel stars Hugh Jackman as Charlie Kenton, a washed-up fighter who lost his chance at a title when 2000-pound, 8-foot-tall steel robots took over the ring. Now nothing but a small-time promoter, Charlie earns just enough money piecing together low-end bots from scrap metal to get from one underground boxing venue to the next. When Charlie hits rock bottom, he reluctantly teams up with his estranged son Max (Dakota Goyo) to build and train a championship contender. As the stakes in the brutal, no-holds-barred arena are raised, Charlie and Max, against all odds, get one last shot at a comeback. -- (C) Dreamworks

I loved this show and would highly recommend to all to catch it as well.

Girls, watch this because of Hugh Jackman!

Guys, watch this because your girls wanna watch Hugh Jackman! :)

Jokes aside, it is a great movie to catch! Care not to elaborate further.

Sorry, I am just too bogged down with work of late.

.: Watsons : Trade In Your Chemicals :.

2011-10-17T15:51:00.000+08:00

Bring in your conventional skin care product and trade in for Esmeria Organic Travel facial set!

.: Doesn't Help :.

2011-10-14T19:11:00.002+08:00

Doesn’t help that I will be having a busy day tomorrow.

Doesn’t help that I have had not had a decent sleep the past two days.

Doesn’t help that I have to work late.

Doesn’t help that I am just in a grumpy mood all day today.

Doesn’t help that I am worried sick bout the consequences of a possible mistake I’ve made.

I want to just cry!

.: My Happiest Moments :.

2011-10-14T13:18:00.001+08:00

This is a picture of me and my then 5-year-old cousin, Rachel Tan!

I love her to bits and she can definitely make my day by her wide cheeky smile, proudly showing off her carious tooth!

I love the way she calls me Jie-Jie ever so lovingly and doting voice….

I love to have phone conversations with her, even tho the conversation doesn’t make very much sense…

I also love talking to her face-to-face so that I can see her roll her wide dolly eyes whenever I say something lame…

I love how she does cute and adorable "supermodel" poses in front of the camera…

And I also love how she sneakily tries to get chocolate, when she already has her fair share…

I also love how she, in her child-like innoncence, teaches me things I never knew and reminds me of things I have forgotten.

She is just so precious to me and being with her is one of
MY HAPPIEST MOMENTS!

.: Paint It Purple :.

2011-10-13T16:45:00.000+08:00

The annual “Paint It Purple” campaign raises awareness about Violence Against Women (VAW) by getting a global audience to “paint” the internet purple during the campaign using social media. The campaign also raises funds for The Pixel Project, our partners and participating VAW nonprofits worldwide through cupcake bake sales and “Paint It Purple” parties. “Paint It Purple” was initially created by The Pixel Project to honour Domestic Violence Awareness Month.

However, starting from 2011, as part of The Pixel Project’s commitment to stopping all forms of VAW, the campaign will run from 8 October to 24 November which is the eve of the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-based Violence campaign. “Paint It Purple” is open to all VAW nonprofits, grassroots groups, bakeries and individuals supporting the cause to end violence against women.

Ten Reasons Why I Am Taking Part In the "Paint It Purple" campaign (and why you should too!)

Reason 1: It is a Cause that Impacts YOUR Life. Violence against women is not an isolated problem that only impacts the victim – it has consequences that affect the victim’s family and community ranging from health problems that affect a woman’s ability to be a mother, to millions of dollars and lost work hours faced by employers with staff facing violence. With 1 in 3 women across the world experiencing some form of gender-based violence in their lives, chances are, you already know somebody who faces domestic violence, was raped or sexually assaulted or even forced into marriage.

Reason 2: A Fun Ice-breaker for the Silence. Violence against women is a difficult issue that many people shy away from. Having a campaign with enjoyable activities can help break the silence and that is exactly what ”Paint It Purple” is all about – an ice-breaker campaign that engages the general public with lots of fun-filled activities from putting on purple parties to baking purple cupcakes to painting the internet purple with specially designed badges. (I'm going to decorate a purple cupcake this Sat, how purrrfect!)

Reason 3: Raise Funds on a Sugar High. Everybody loves a cupcake (Amen!) and having a cupcake bake sale or a cupcake party is the perfect way to raise funds. Your friends, family, co-workers and classmates will happily chow down on delicious cupcakes while handing over money for these delicious treats! (Oh I do hope so!)

Reason 4: Every Single Action Counts! (Because you can really make a difference!) Whether you pull out all the stops to host a “Paint It Purple” party, record a YouTube video in your best purple shirt or donate your Facebook profile picture to feature the “Paint It Purple” badge for a week, we’ll count you in… and your action will go towards Say NO – UNiTE Against Violence Against Women‘s action ticker too!

Reason 5: It’s Easy To Get On Board. We work hard to make it easy for anybody to get on board the cause. From auto-counting downloaded “Paint It Purple” virtual goodies to ensuring that registration forms for parties are short and sweet, we know that taking part should be simple and to-the-point. (Coz it's just so easy, there is just no excuse not to join!)

Reason 6: There’s Something For Everyone. Whether you love parties, are a baking guru, a time-starved professional, a YouTube fan or a social media whiz, chances are, “Paint It Purple”‘s got something that would suit you to a tee. That’s the beauty of this campaign – that you have a variety of ways to participate instead of just one!

Reason 7: It’s Family Friendly. With cupcakes as the star of the menu, “Paint It Purple” parties are really family-friendly as most of them are held either as brunch or tea-time events. Last year our Kuala Lumpur party had ice-the-cupcake sessions for kids and the Cardiff event had local musicians entertain the guests. This year, with our brand new “Paint It Purple” cupcake recipe gallery kicking off, you could even bake your cupcakes together with your kids, family and friends for a yummy, low-key get-together! (Hooray!)

Reason 8: Flexibility Rocks! The “Paint It Purple” campaign is designed to provide a great framework for you to get started with activism raise awareness and funds for the cause to end violence against women. We give you a few ground rules and basic support on the back-end and with online publicity. The rest is up to you. For example: You can make your “Paint It Purple” party as elaborate or as simple as you wish. You can write a short blog post or a long one. If you don’t feel like contributing a recipe, you can help us paint the internet purple instead. (there is just so0o0o many ways to contribute!)

Reason 9: Join a growing Global Community. When you join “Paint It Purple”, you’re joining a growing global community speaking out to end violence against women. Whether it’s our global chorus of voices on our Wall of Support or our “Paint It Purple” cupcake recipe gallery or our “Paint It Purple” Blog Carnival, every person who participates in the campaign is part of the greater movement to end violence against women.

Reason 10: It’s Time-Friendly. For those who are super-busy, (like myself) “Paint It Purple” offers options for action that only take a couple of minutes. Whether it’s helping us paint the internet purple or recording a YouTube PSA for us or just buying a “Paint It Purple” cupcake from your local participating bakery/cupcakery, many “Paint It Purple” activities take between 2 to 10 minutes tops.

I will be attending a "Paint It Purple" charity cupcake party on 15th Oct 2011 (this Sat) at The Academy Of Pastry Art, PJ. If you are interested for tickets, contact Ann Nunis (03-79575636) (ann.wao@gmail.com)

.: Egg Sandwiches :.

2011-10-12T17:58:00.001+08:00

Humble as it may sound, I just love having egg sandwiches.

The egg sandwich has got to be one of the simplest & easiest dishes to prepare – you can even get the kids to do it!

The basic egg sandwich would involve eggs (duh!) and a slice of bread.

The eggs can be hard-boiled or fried or poached or scrambled. For bread, you can do a simple plain white or slices of baguette or toasted wholemeal bread, whatever combo that tickles your fancy.

So last night, on the way home, I thought of making some sandwiches for breakfast. We have a couple of leeks laying in the fridge, so I thought it would be great to experiment making some leek & egg sandwiches (or egg & leek sandwiches, whichever way you wanna call it). I read somewhere that leeks make a great alternative to onions albeit a less pungent one and can be eaten raw (honestly, I didn’t know that before). So while the husband put four eggs into a pot of boiling water, I took about 4 inches of leeks (from the root/bottom) and chopped it into tiny bits. Once the eggs was done and the shells peeled, I took out a mixing bowl and mashed the eggs (but not too much as I love my egg sandwiches with a lil more bite into it – but then again, its really personal preference) together with the chopped leeks. I added about a tablespoon and the half of mayonnaise (yogurt would be a great alternative too) & throw in a dash of dried mixed herbs (fresh herbs such as thyme, parsley or dill would be much better, but I have neither of those on hand, so I just have to make do with what I have). Of course, I season with a pinch of salt and a dash of black pepper. Mix the entire ingredient in the mixing bowl well.

For the bread, I used some Massimo bread, toasted on my pan (coz I don’t have a bread toaster or an oven toaster).

I spread a generous amount of eggs mixture onto a slice of toasted bread, top it up with a couple slices of moon-blushed tomatoes and voila, it’s ready to be eaten for supper.

As for the rest, I didn’t bother with toasting the bread and after packing it, I left it in the fridge. Today, I woke up with lovely cold egg sandwiches for breakfast. Yummers! What a way to start the day huh? :)

.: Seriously :.

2011-10-07T14:58:00.000+08:00

LIFE IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY

- Oscar Wilde -

.: Project Casa : Wait-And-See :.

2011-10-02T02:11:00.000+08:00

And so our investment property hunting have been renamed to Project Casa. Well JC being JC-the-investment-banker, everything we do have to have a project name. So if you would recall, our house renovation was Project Castle, our wedding was Project Downhill, our Australian migration was Project Wallaby and so on and so forth.

We have identified a few locations, but still choose to be cautious given the fact that many seasoned property investors have taken the wait-and-see-approach as prices of properties are a lil bit on the high side. Also given the worldwide and local economy, it is in the view of many that the property bubble will burst approaching next year.

Meanwhile, we just have to load our mini war-chest and keep our eyes open for more opportunities.

.: My Day Today :.

2011-10-02T01:53:00.002+08:00

It has been an eventful day.

Took part in Nuffnang's Malaysia's First Ever MasterChef Blogger competition. The 20 bloggers that took part were put to two task.

First task was an Invention Test, where the 20 bloggers are suppose to create a dish within one hour incorporating the "secret ingredient". Kyo no tema *in Kaga (Iron Chef) tone*..... CHICKEN.

No biggie right, one would think. Chicken has got to be the most versatile ingredient one can use. But under the time pressure and just being in a kitchen that is not yours together with the limited complimentary ingredients, it is not as easy as it sounds. Anyhows, after going thru some options - Sweet & Sour Chicken, Curry Chicken and even Ayam Masak Merah, I made a decision to play safe and go with Grilled Chicken in Lemon Sauce with a bed of sauted vegetables. A dish that, sadly, didn't push me to qualify for the finale as they were looking for something more creative, hence playing safe wasn't exactly a smart move.

Anyways, it was a good and enjoyable experience and I really did had fun! Competition was great and indeed the top 5 deservingly gets to make the cut. Made a new friend - Dharm, do check out his foodblog here! And yeah, I did finally get to learn how to make poached eggs. Have seen it a couple of times on TV, but never really gotten a hand on it until today, where it was part of the second task. The first attempt was terrible, the egg-white came out too runny. But the second attempt was a good (tho nowhere near perfect) poach egg, with the judges : Ryan Khang (from The Cooking House), Azlin Reza (from Astro Ria) & KY (from KYSpeak) nodding their head in approval.

(will share pics once I get a few from others as we didn't lugged our DSLR along)

When all was over, JC was hungry (and grumpy because he was hungry) and we had lunch at Bulldog Pub & Cafe. By the way, the Spotted Dick's custard sauce is absolutely delish! I heart!

I had a terrible headache and was feeling nauseated, probably still have not recovered from my flu early this week or probably from last night's drinking at The Tavern, Guinness Factory (some ICAEW City Group event). So I napped while JC drove to Avalon for us to get a lamp for our home.

Went home after, took a nap and was up for dinner and a yum cha session with my secondary school mates at our favourite Starbucks place in Uptown (we have been meeting here for the past five to six years). It's good to have finally catch up with them after months. We were planning to have our TEN YEARS reunion for SMDJ's 5 Batai 2002. Wow, seriously 10 years have passed since we left highschool. It has been that long, hasn't it? Time flies.......

.: Will I Be The Next MasterChef Blogger? :.

2011-09-29T19:06:00.000+08:00

Ok, so I decided to take part in Nuffnang's Malaysia’s First Ever MasterChef Blogger challange. I was actually at first quite reluctant to take part, tho I was very interested. Sure, I have whipped up a couple of dishes in my humble kitchen, fed a mob of more than half-a-dozen people multiple times (without causing much food poisoning after, mind you), but to take part in a competition where there is potentially really good cooks out there, I wasn't too sure. But then again, I thought, what the heck, no harm just trying. And so I did.

The first hurdle was to write a blogpost on why I should be crowned “Malaysia’s First Ever Blogger MasterChef” by writing about my signature dish/recipe.

So I submit my entry here of my Chocolate Molten Lava Cake, and guess what?... I was called to take part in the semi-finals challange this Saturday!

Ok, to be honest, I am a lil estatic and a lil bit nervous all in one. Because, in this semi final round, 20 bloggers will take part in 2 challanges (I have yet to know what those two challenges are! *scary*) and from there, only the top 5 will be selected. The venue will be at The Cooking House, Desa Sri Hartamas, and I wish that I can bring all of you guys to support me, but sadly, I could only invite one guest. So naturally, the man behind such *coff* great *coff* chef gets the lucky chance.

There will be another similiar semi final round next week (8th October) for the remaning 20 bloggers shortlisted and from there, another top 5 will be selected.

The 10 selected bloggers will then have a final cook-off in some shopping mall in KL on the 16th October 2011.

And the prizes at stake are:

GRAND PRIZE (Best MasterChef Blogger) : RM3,000.00 in cash + Panasonic IH Cooker (Model: KY-C227B) worth RM2, 799 + BHPetrol Cash Voucher worth RM 500.00 + Ipad1 (16GB) with WIFI + Masterchef Pendrive (4GB) + Mitten + Nestle Hamper worth RM 300.00

Runner up Prize – (2nd Best MasterChef Blogger) : RM2,000.00 in cash + Panasonic Microwave (Model: NN-GS597) worth RM999 + BHPetrol Cash Voucher worth RM 400 + Ipad1 (16GB) with WIFI + Masterchef Pendrive (4GB) + Mitten + Nestle Hamper worth RM 200.00

8 x Consolation Prize Winners : a BHPPetrol Cash Voucher worth RM 100 + Nestle Hamper worth RM 150.00

The Bonus prize and title of “The Best MasterChef ‘Buzz’ Blogger” will also be awarded to the semi-finalist (Any of the 40 Chosen Bloggers) who creates the MOST buzz, hype & awareness on their social spaces (Twitter, Facebook, blog) about MasterChef Malaysia and this contest during the second phase (between 1-15 October 2011).

Bonus Prize- the Best MasterChef Buzz Blogger: RM1,000.00 Cash + Panasonic Microwave (Model : NN-GS597) worth RM999 + BHPetrol Cash Voucher worth RM 200.00 + Ipad1 (16GB) with WIFI + Masterchef Pendrive (4GB) + Mitten + Nestle Hamper worth RM 150.00

Such great goodies to be won, but if all else fails, at least I will come home with Hong Leong Credit Card merchandise + MasterChef pendrive (4GB) + cooking mittens + T-Shirt.

Now, let's just hope & pray that I don't burn the kitchen down

give food poisoning to the judges

or something to that line.

Wish me luck!

.: Lesung Batu :.

2011-09-26T20:03:00.001+08:00

Hand-down from my late-grandma to my mom, and now from my mom to me. ♥

Nothing more precious & meaningful than things handed down from generation to generation. ♥

.: Awesome Mustache Shop :.

2011-09-25T00:57:00.000+08:00

What's more awesome that awesome?

An awesome mustache shop! Check them out! Cool clothes, awesome accessories, need I say more?

.: The Village Idiot :.

2011-09-21T17:09:00.000+08:00

Just the other day, like most days, I was swamped with work and in between reading and replying emails while talking to my boss bout the next action plan for our long outstanding task which needed to meet the deadline which was yesterday (don’t you hate it when all the deadlines you have are due yesterday! ugh!), when my husband called me.

JC : Dear, I am walking to my car… and guess what?

Me : What?

“Did you strike a lottery and won like a frizzilion bucks and I don’t have to work for the rest of my life? Or did you inherit like a kabazillion dollars from some long lost uncle that you didn’t even know exist? Or did your boss told you that you were a top performer and get like a 10 years bonus and told you to take the month off so that you & I can travel round the world with your earned bonus money?” I thought, but not out loud, coz my boss was just next to me

JC : I found 10 cents on the street… and picked it up. *laughs gleefully*

Me : -.- Seriously? Bye! *slams phone*

Seriously, JC. Like seriously? Why, oh why did I marry the village idiot? :)

.: Malaysia’s First Ever Blogger MasterChef :.

2011-09-20T14:58:00.006+08:00

Ok, so I suppose you guys have heard of (or even follow closely) MasterChef reality series.

MasterChef is a worldwide phenomenon. A cooking reality show, that although doesn’t allow viewers to vote, has still broken viewership records in US and Australia. MasterChef is a success because not only is FOOD something we are all very passionate about (I know I am) but the show only allows amateur cooks (like you & me) to compete. Malaysians who love cooking but never had a chance to really showcase their skills and be appreciated, now get the opportunity!

There's the USA MasterChef :

Even Junior MasterChef (aren't they so cute?):

But guess what.... Astro is bringing MasterChef closer to home this October with the debut of MasterChef Malaysia! MasterChef Malaysia will be launched on the 22 October 2011 on Astro Ria (Channel 104). MasterChef TX will be starting on 22 October every Saturday - Wednesday, 9pm while Master Class will be on every Friday, 9pm.

Well, if I were to enter the MasterChef audition to be Malaysia's Next MasterChef, I would whip up my simple, yet pleasurably enjoyable decadent Chocolate Molten Lava Cake. So easy to make with just simple basic ingrediant, yet the impact of the warm chocolate meets the cold vanila ice cream. Heavenly!

The recipe are so simple to follow with only 15 minutes of preparation time & 10 minutes of cooking time.

Ingredients (4 - 5 servings depending on ramekin size):

6 oz. Semi-Sweet Baking Chocolate (or use your favorite 70% dark chocolate bar)
6 oz. Butter (diced, room temperature)
3 Eggs
1/2 cup Granulated Sugar
1/3 cup Flour
Some butter for the ramekins

1. Preheat oven to 350°F (200C)
2. Melt chocolate on low flame in ala bain-marie (double boiler). When melted, take of flame.
3. Stir into melted chocolate diced butter, until it melts.
4. In another bowl, beat eggs and sugar, until it starts to whiten.
5. Stir in melted chocolate and then the flour.
6. Butter 4-5 individual ramekins generously (you don't want your cake to be stuck if you intend to remove from the ramekin before serving, of course, another alternative is to serve it in the ramekin in itself), and pour in chocolate batter, until slightly about an centimeter from the top (leave a lil space as it will souffle up slightly)
6. Cook for about 10 minutes. You will know it’s done, when it looks cake-like on the top, but as you give it a lil jiggle, it is still wobbly.
7. Tip ramekins upside down onto dessert plates and serve. Use a knife and run along side if you find it difficult to nudge it out.
8. Voilà! Serve immediately with vanilla ice cream and chocolate sauce. Or eat it on it's own, warm from the oven!

Interested to know more? Click below for more details:
Official Site URL – http://www.astro.com.my/MasterChef/
Facebook Page Link- http://www.facebook.com/MasterChefMalaysia
Twitter Link– http://www.blogger.com/www.twitter.com/MasterChefMY

.: Antenna's Up :.

2011-09-17T22:58:00.000+08:00

Have you ever have those moments where you hear lil whispers in your ears, but can't really make up what is being said?

Well, I have had and am having these moments now.

And I have been trying to be still and listen to the words that He is trying to say to me.

But with so much noises, distractions and distortions, I am afraid that He can't get thru to me.

Oh Lord, let my heart not be anxious, but be still. Let my mind not be clouded, but be clear. And let me have the discernment to hear Your voice of peace as You speak Your words of wisdom to me.

.: Acquisitions :.

2011-09-15T16:21:00.000+08:00

So the husband & I are now on, in his words, an acquisitive-mode. We are looking at properties at around PJ area for investment purposes.

I am more of a capital gain person. Buy at a low value, value appreciates in the next few years. Dispose at gain.

My husband, on the other hand, is more of a cash-flow matching person. Buy reasonable high-yielding investments. Rent. And keep forever, and ever. Ok, perhaps not forever, but you know, for a long term.

There are pros and cons to these types of properties. Like for my type, it would mean that I need to buy properties that value have not appreciated much in the area. Also, it would mean I am looking more at landed properties and newly launched or newly constructed properties. As for my husband’s type, it would mean fishing out for properties in prime developed areas, with high volume of residence. As we both are not *coff* rich *coff* we are targeting low to medium cost properties.

I am already an owner on an investment property (IP) in Sri Ara. It’s a low cost walk-up apartment that was purchased at a cost of RM130k. The current value that is put up for sale (after only 1 year holding period) is about RM180k. The deposit that I had to fork out is RM13k (i.e. 10% of the value) and the balance is financed by loan. In a nutshell, with simple calculation, the gain (albeit an unrealized one) is about RM50k for an RM13k outlay. This reads, 4 times return on investment. Rental yield from this IP is reasonably comfortable, enough to pay for the monthly loan installment as well as monthly service charges. This reads, rental income pays for the loan installment; I am getting the IP for free. Good deal no?

As for the second property I owned, it is the place that we are currently staying in. We purchased it at its all-time-low market value of RM250k, and after injecting approximately RM80k of renovations & fittings into it, the value it is now today is at RM400k. Yes, the mini house that I am staying in is actually worth that much. But since we are staying in it, the unrealized gain of about RM70k will not be crystallized anytime soon.

As we are looking at more acquisitions, we have considered Puchong and Subang/USJ area as we believe that the price here is still reasonable. Puchong is the next gold mine, in the sense that it is located near the City Centre and has much potential to develop (which is proven by the mushrooming development of residential properties in recent years). In conjuction with the proposed MRT, this has really driven the demands for Puchong properties the past year. Subang/USJ, on the other hand, have been undervalued for a very long time, and even tho prices have picked up recently in view of the proposed MRT that would make this place more accessible, we believe that there are potentially more space for value hike (of course this is our amateur opinion, who knows, we could be wrong?)

We have met with a couple of agents and have been going for unit viewing in the past days. So hopefully there are some bargain buys waiting to be picked by us in the coming days…

.: And The Winner Goes To.... :.

2011-09-13T19:30:00.000+08:00

Thank you to all who have participated.

And now, the moment that most of you have been waiting for...

The winner for Kath's Very First Giveaway is

- azatiesayang -

Congrats!

I have contacted you via email and would await your reply the next 36 hours.

.: You Can Say I'm A Dreamer :.

2011-09-07T23:54:00.000+08:00

Been having some weird dreams (have it ever been normal? hmmm) two nights in a row.

The theme of these dreams are about forgiveness. Perhaps God is trying to ask me to let go of the past hurts & disappointments and start afresh with these three particular people. In my dreams, I told them I missed them and the way we used to be.

I was, at one point in time of my live, very very close to these three people. They were everything to me and I loved (perhaps I still do love) them and care for them very much.

Somehow, for person A, we just drifted apart. And when I found out that she was bad-mouthing me behind my back, I got really annoyed and choose to shut her of. Being family, I do see her a couple of times in a year, but somehow, it has become just the customary hi-bye greeting shared between us and nothing more. It pains me much that our relationship has drifted this way for she was the very person I spend most of my time with during my toddler days. If I recall correctly, she was the very person who taught me to read my first book at the age of three. In my dreams, I told her I was upset with her for the past, but want to work things out between her. I do hope that somehow, in real life, this dream would crystallize.

For person B, we drifted apart because of the fact that he has to choose side between me & another person which I was had conflicted, and naturally, he choose her side. I don't blame him, for that's what I expect him to do, it's just sad that our very close friendship had to end that way. We were really close and used to confide in everything with each other. Even a short misunderstanding that caused us to give each other the silent treatment lasted only a short while and it was all over when he sent me a text on CNY eve that says "..you're the best friend I ever had.." which brought tears to my eyes. In my dream, he was very distraught and was trying to tell me some bad news that have befallen on him, but before he did, I woke up (from the backache that I was suffering). Tho I know that it is very likely that we ever reconcile, I do wish him all the best in his future, and hopefully the dream of something bad is not premeditation of his existing situation.

For person C, it is only been of late that there were issues that happened leading me to be very disappointed and upset. It was more upsetting that in this particular dream, we drifted even further and was blatantly ignoring each other. I can also, in my dreams, sense that my late-Grandpa was not very happy with this and to cause him great disappointment in me make me even more so disappointed with myself. In real life, because of the above incident, I have tried to distant myself away for this group of people, hoping that by doing so, I will save myself for much more disappointment in the future. It's like I'm trying to stop loving this group of people (person C included) so that I can avoid getting hurt from them. But this dream made me realise that I can't. No matter how much I try to distant myself, I find myself even more concern about them. I care for them so deep in my core that I can't bear to distant myself from them. So I took a step today and started FB chat with one of them, asking him bout his Uni life and all. Perhaps a step at a time til all is reconciled.

Anyways, I just pray to God that I learn to let go all the pain & grief & disappointments I harbour inside me, and hopefully I will learn to forgive & forget. In His words, "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

.: Jamie's Food Revolution :.

2011-09-07T23:16:00.000+08:00

Launched March 2010: Jamie's Food Revolution campaign is about saving the health of America's next generation (and worldwide alike!). Kids need better food at school and better health prospects.

We need to keep cooking skills alive.

Stand up and be counted - you have the power to make a difference.

I have stood up, have you?

Sign up NOW here!

Also, Jamie's Food Revolution recipes teach basic cooking skills and inspire people to make affordable family meals from scratch at home. Among these recipes are some American classics, which have been tweaked to reduce the salt, fat and total calories, without sacrificing flavor. These recipes can be part of a healthy balanced diet with room for the occasional treat! So put on your apron, pull out your pots and pans, and let's start cooking!

.: And I Will Be Loved :.

2011-09-07T22:47:00.001+08:00

So the past few days have been crazy for me. Three shots (no, not tequilla shots, but of the piston and needle variety). Two mercilessly at the bum and one just an inch away from my coccyx.

The first shot was on Friday over some rashes that developed on my arms and legs. No, worry not to those who have been near me, they have been declared contagious-free by the good doctor, and the only bother it has on me is that it is unsightly to my almost flawless skin and that it is crazy itchy. The good doctor has also prescribed some cream to apply in order to reduce itching (helped alot but I'm still scratching it mad).

And the other two jabs? Well, that's for a backache which I had since Monday and is still bad today. If it doesn't get any better, I need to refer to a specialist. Golly, with the number of jabs I have had, my friend Su teased that I'm like a junkie!

Anyways, JC has been extra affectionate and caring of late, applying cream to my arms and legs and ointment to my back. A conversation that took part just last night, while he was rubbing my back

ME: My arms itch, my back hurts. I feel like an old woman.
HE : We'd all grow old one day.
ME : Reassuring JC,real reassuring! -.-

I must admit that I enjoyed the affection and attention, tho I'm a tad bit worried bout my back, being a possibility of slipdisc. Anyways, prayerfully its nothing serious.

.: Common Courtesy :.

2011-09-04T14:35:00.000+08:00

So I was having dinner with the husband last night at a busy Western restaurant in USJ last now.

It was really packed with people and the waiter/waitresses was really doubling up to man the place.

So we sat at a corner and ordered our food. A family - a mom and her two kids, sat at the table next to us a while after. The waiter passed her and her kids the menu, and she quickly hold back the waiter and told him that she was ready to order.

That was fast, I thought to myself, she hasn't even read the menu yet. Perhaps she is a regular customer at this joint.

So as not to eavesdrop any further, I continued my conversations with JC. It was after a while that I realise that she was reading the menu out loud. Strange, I thought. Didn't she earlier said that she was ready to order. I turned my head 45 degrees and at the corner of my eyes, I spotted her reading out loud the menu to the other person on the other line of her mobile phone, presumably her husband. Seriously? She started off with the beef, then the chicken, and then the seafood. Mine you, that was close to like 40 items of that she just read out - together with it's description.

I was just thinking, how could she be so selfish as to hold the waiter back and wasted a good 10 minutes? Can't she like excuse the waiter under she can get her husband to decide.

Selfish people I tell you! Where are your common courtesy? Just like common sense, it's not so common anymore I suppose. Ugh!

.: Recipe : Simple Strawberry Sponge Cake :.

2011-09-03T14:05:00.000+08:00

I manage to get some fresh strawberries at a bargain from my trip up to Cameron Highlands a couple of weeks back, so I decided to make a simple strawberry cake.

The recipe as below:

For cake batter

175g butter*

175g sugar*

175g self-raising flour*

3 large eggs

1 tsp baking powder

Whipping cream (I used fresh whipping cream, but you may opt for the easier ready-made one, but I reckon it won't taste as good)

Fresh strawberries, thinly sliced

Strawberry jam (which I also made from scratch & JC loved it so much he have it with vanilla ice cream for the next few days til its gone!)

- Cream the cake batter together.

- Divide the batter equally into two 8" round pans

- Bake at preheated 180C oven for about 20-25 minutes.

- Allow to cool in pan then remove and let cool on a wire rack.

- Begin to assemble by spreading a generous amount of strawberry jam on one of the layer of cake.

- This is followed by a layer of fresh fresh whipped cream and then finished with a layer of fresh strawberries.

- Place the second layer of cake on the top, spread some more fresh whipped cream and decorate with more fresh strawberries.

- Voila! Enjoy with a freshly brew pot of tea! :)

*the magical 6 oz ratio also used in my previous cupcake recipe here. Can't really go wrong with this ratio.

Note that pics above are of the miniature version made with my ramekins as there was some leftovers from the main cake I made. No pics of the main cake tho! :)

.: Kath's Very First Giveaway! :.

2011-09-02T19:19:00.000+08:00

[ GIVEAWAY ENDED ]

A BIG THANK YOU to all who have participated.

I will need some time to verify each entry and hopefully to announce the winner in the next couple of weeks to come.

xoxo

Kathlynn

So I one day woke up and decided (albeit spontaneously) to host a giveaway!

Now it’s not like I have tons to give (in fact I have a tons of ‘wants’ on my wishlist), but I have taken part in many giveaways & get the thrill when I won a handful of it. And it made me to wonder what does it feel like to be the other side of the table - the be the host of a giveaway instead. So hence, a small, humble lil giveaway to all you faithful ol’ readers & new readers of my blog alike.

I’ve decided the giveaway prize to be something that I have won from a previous giveaway (click here to read more), because it’s just soooooo pwetty! (it’s new, no worries, I haven’t wore it myself). It is a Scrabble Tile Pendant from Starmek Creation.

I love this design and all, but I am so amazed with the variety of choices that I am planning to get one of another design myself (not telling which one just yet).

Anyways, here it goes:

KATH’S VERY FIRST GIVEAWAY!

Mandatory:
1) Must be a public Google Friend Connect (GFC) follower – you have to follow publicly so that I can verify this [1 point]
2) Email address – for me to contact the winner

Optional entries:
1) Blog about this giveaway on your blog (with the above pics) & link it back to this blog [1 point]
2) Add this giveaway to your sidebar (with the above pics) & link it back to this blog [1 point]
3) Tweet bout this giveaway [1 point]
4) Post on facebook wall bout this giveaway [1 point]

Leave a comment on this post with your GFC name, link of your blogpost/twitter/facebook & not forgetting your email in ONE COMMENT only.

E.g.
GFC name :
Email add :
Blog :
Sidebar :
Twitter :
Facebook :

This giveaway is open internationally and will run until 31st August 2011 (Merdeka day!)

Winner will be selected via random.org and will be informed via email and will be given 36 hours to respond, failing which, another winner will be drawn.

Well, hope I do enjoy giving giveaways more that winning giveaways (click here if you're interested to know my list of winnings)! *wink*

.: Forgiveness - Dear Malaysian :.

2011-09-02T00:26:00.003+08:00

I've never really found the time
To see what's on the other side of me
Never really had the time
To open my eyes to look, to see

I've never really bothered
To get close to the ground
Been in my fortress forever
By my narrow views I am bound
I've grown tired of stupid games
That tell us we're not the same, and
Today I come in all eagerness
I've grown tired of stupid games
That tell us we're not the same, and
Today I come seeking for forgiveness
There's really no point in fighting
And blaming all those around
I want to see myself within you
You're the treasure that I found

Now I am glad I took the time
To see what's on the other side of me

.: TanksFor5 :.

2011-08-31T12:52:00.002+08:00

Ever wonder where you can get those tank tops at an affordable price? There are a couple of shops (online & offline) that are selling for a bargain RM15-RM20 per piece. But if you think that's a good bargain, wait til you hear this!

TanksFor5 a blogshop established by Cynthia Ting, are selling tops for .... you guessed it .. RM5!

From animal prints to floral prints or even if you're just looking for the basic kinds - this blogshop is bound to have what you need. If you think that there are only one way to wear a tank top, think again - here's a few articles of ways you can fashion a simple top to work or to play!

Also, there are varieties of bikinis (selling for RM25) to shorts to dresses (selling for about RM35).

So go ahead and check out TanksFor5 today!

I've made two batch of purchases from her, so it is definitely a bargain (coming from a frugal accountant like me!)

Pst : If you are interested in getting a 10% off your bill or a RM5 off? Find out how here!

One of the few collections of tops for RM5!

Dresses for RM35

.: A Short Update :.

2011-08-26T14:33:00.002+08:00

8 blog posts (9 if this is included) for the month of August. My monthly average is bout 20 – 30 posts. I actually got lots to blog, but so lil time. Anyways, hopefully I will be able to blog more frequently soon. And also hopeful that I will be able to attend our church’s Church Camp in Refreshing Spring Resorts, Tanjung Malim this weekend. Til then, TTFN

.: One More Week Til Giveaway Ends :.

2011-08-24T10:16:00.000+08:00

One more week before contest ends.

If you love to win the scrabble pendant below, click here & read the giveaway rules & instructions carefully before joining.

To those who have joined, thank you so much for supporting. It is very encouraging, and who knows, I will host another giveaway soon! :)

.: Tanjung Tualang Tin Dredge :.

2011-08-21T22:37:00.000+08:00

Looks like something coming out of your Form 3 Geography textbook eh? :)

Taken today (21/8/2011)

.: Life Is ... :.

2011-08-18T14:27:00.000+08:00

Life is what we make it, always has been, always will be....

.: La Vita E Bella :.

2011-08-13T12:15:00.000+08:00

It's a beautiful morning.

The sun is shining.

The birds are chirping.

Life is beautiful, ain't it?

Happy weekend all! :)

.: Change Your Perspective Of Life :.

2011-08-12T13:26:00.001+08:00

How does one not tear after reading this article?

Here is an old man, who, at 78 years, should be sitting at home or having coffee at the nearest coffeshop with other fellow retirees chatting about or spending time with his children/grandchildren at home. And yet, this man is up at 6am, rummaging thru garbage bins collecting recyclables, earning a honest living, so that he can have some money to buy something nice for his two teenage grandchildren for Raya.

Just be grateful and thankful for everything we have... to complain less and appreciate more...

MALACCA: Everyday from morning till evening, a grandfather is diligently scouring the backlanes of Heritage Zone here to collect recyclable items all for the love of his two teenage granddaughters.

Ali Ahmad hopes the weather will be kind because it is easier to work on sunny days, and he wants to quickly collect and sell enough items to raise RM400 to give to his granddaughters this Hari Raya.

From 6am to 4pm since Monday, the 68-year-old can be seen rummaging through garbage bags and trash cans.

“It is not an easy thing to do. It is smelly and sometimes, dogs come after me.

“Some folks also look down on what I am doing.

But I ignore their stares because I am earning an honest income,” said the former driver for a local authority when met at the back lane along Jalan Bendahara here yesterday.

Ali is determined to achieve his goal because he wants his granddaughters to “have money to buy something nice for Hari Raya”.

“My wife is frail, and my pension is small. The money is not enough to buy Hari Raya stuff because I have to take care of the house rental and other daily expenses.

“I hope what I am doing now will bring in some money,” he said, adding that he sells the salvaged items to a local recycling centre.

.: Lesson In Optimism :.

2011-08-08T13:42:00.000+08:00

It is a known-fact that I am not exactly the most optimistic of person. In fact, I can be very much like Eeyore most of the time.

So, when a friend posted on her Facebook wall that she needed help to win some Hello Kitty stuff on some Facebook contest, I clicked on to check it out. A scrolled thru comments after comments and saw that one person had like 130+ likes. And then I spotted her name further down, and at the bottom of her comment box, there was 7 likes.

Ah, I said to myself, tough luck.

I closed the screen without bothering to vote and proceed to checking my emails, blogshopping, paying my bills online, downloading some Photoshop tutorial and having an argument with someone else on Facebook. And then, pop, that particular friend’s message appeared on Facebook.

“Hi” she started, and before she even begin to type finish, I knew what she wanted.

“You want me to vote for you right?” I typed and pressed entered, almost a second after she told me she needed my vote to help her win.

“Do you know that there’s someone who’s like 130+ likes ahead from you?” I asked. “How optimistic are you in your chances of winning?” I continued.

She replied (something to this line, no word for word) “Yes, I know. But I still want to try. It’s better to try and lose than to never try at all.” And because of that, she had my ‘like’.

Just because you don’t think you’d have a chance that should not stop you from even trying. Afterall, there’s nothing to lose, and much to gain.

By the way, she did not win that Hello Kitty thingamabob. But what she had done is taught me a humble lesson.

Well, hopefully her optimism she transferred on twitter actually rubs off on me.

.: Captain America :.

2011-08-05T00:34:00.000+08:00

Watched it. Loved it (surprisingly). You should catch it too!

.: Forgive Those Who Have Sinned Against Us :.

2011-08-01T13:45:00.001+08:00

An Iranian woman has forgiven the man who blinded and disfigured her face, by throwing acid at her.

The AAP reported she forgave her attacker and decided not to go ahead with the court-ordered retribution, which involved a doctor putting acid into his eyes. This is based on the Islamic law system of "qisas," or eye-for-an-eye retribution. She asked the doctor to spare him at the last minute in a dramatic scene broadcast on Iran's state television.

Ameneh Bahrami lost her sight and suffered horrific burns to her face, scalp and body , when attacked by a man whose marriage proposal she rejected. "It is best to pardon when you are in a position of power," she said. The sobbing man, Majid Movahedi, said Bahrami was "very generous." It was a change of heart when the court handed down the sentence in November 2008.

Bahrami was then happy with the ruling. "I am not doing this out of revenge, but rather so that the suffering I went through is not repeated," she said in that March 2009 interview.

And forgive us our sins, as we have forgiven those who sin against us.
Matthew 6:12

If you were in her shoes, would you have that forgiveness in your heart to forgive something done so cruelly to you? Makes you wonder about all the unforgiveness you have harboured over petty petty things done by others to you, doesn't it?

.: Mushroom & Tomato Quiche :.

2011-07-31T18:49:00.000+08:00

Presentation can be improved, but the taste is superb.

Now, I should learn to bake the shortcrust pastry instead of using the ready made Kawanku puff pastry.Tee hee.

Recipe up in a bit.

.: A Frillion? :.

2011-07-28T00:34:00.002+08:00

Oh no, it isn't?
Looks like I may need to *coff*restate*coff* my earnings too!

Bah humbug, can't wait for my year end to end!

.: Review : Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream :.

2011-07-26T19:28:00.002+08:00

I honestly can’t get enough of my Organic Aid Vitamin E Facial Foam, so it is with much pleasure that I get a sample of Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream to compliment my said facial foam.

Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream contains natural Vitamin E and is non-comedogenic (which means it does not contain any ingredient proven to block pores aka non-occlusive) and hypo-allergenic (less likely to cause allergic reaction). Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream is said to benefit one skin by enhancing the skin elasticity which tones and smoothes out fine wrinkle. It also soothes and refreshes dry, irritated skin as well as protects skin against sun and wind. Because it is rich with Vitamin E, it is also beneficial in moisturizing and nourishing dry skin by retaining and enhancing the skin’s moisture balance without the greasy feel.

Now, I am one who has dry skin, hence it is important to me to have a GOOD moisturizer that prevents my skin from further drying and flaking, especially more so with the fact that I spend at least 20 hours in an air conditioned room/car. I have tried at least 4 different brands of moisturizer (on a long run) and a couple of dozens of sample packs and have never stuck to one because I am still in search of a good moisturizer that suits my skin.

And then there was Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream and I do have very high expectations of it, because of my positive review on Organic Aid Vitamin E Facial Foam.

After giving a good ol’ wash using the said facial foam, I opened the bottle of Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream. I was abit skeptical at first, because the texture looked very thick. My skepticism was amplified when I dipped my fingers into the pot and the thick-looking cream felt even thicker and creamier than it looked. I proceed to rub the cream in between the palm of my hands, and massage the cream gently onto my face, half heartedly at that. Was I pleasantly surprised that the cream absorbed very well into my skin, and left no traces of oiliness and greasiness that I earlier feared. No, I didn’t have to worry about walking around looking like I’ve slobbered oil all over my face.

Again, like the facial foam, I love that the scent of this moisturizing cream is very naturally light and natural fragrance, which I just can’t help but fall in love! Best of all, it did a great job keeping my skin moist and dry minus the grease and oiliness and the effect last for the whole day (didn’t even bother ‘topping up’).

I am overall very pleased with Organic Aid Vitamin E Moisturizing Cream, and it comes very highly recommended! It is retailing at major pharmacies or hypermarket for an affordable RM14.90.

.: 100 Things That Makes Me Happy :.

2011-07-23T18:35:00.000+08:00

Nineth part to the ten part series

81. McD chocolate sundae (with warm fries – extra yummeh, but so not good for the tummeh!)

82. Playgrounds (swing, swing, swing)

83. Kites high in the sky!'

84. Traffic-free road! Wheeeeeeee

85. Playing the piano (tho I’m no good, I find pleasure in bangin those keys) *hmm, sounds so wrong*

86. Skipping *skippadidodah*

87. BBQs

88. Nursery rhymes (including those modified/dirtified ones!)

89. 7-11 Slurpee (extra sugar dose & brain freeze!)

90. Snail mail (I heart!)

*credit of pictures given to the respective owners*

.: To Strip Down :.

2011-07-22T20:56:00.000+08:00

My vision for life in my twenties is to “strip down”- getting rid of unnecessary items and issues. Even people. But to travel light. To its bare necessities. Not accumulating baggage. Whether physical or otherwise. But to live a simple stripped down life.

- Ee May : Love Life, Live Life -

She just took the words right out of my mind.!

.: Cinema Patron Pet Peeves :.

2011-07-20T17:03:00.000+08:00

So I was reading an article by Time Out KL (TOKL) about annoying cinema behaviors (read here). Don’t you just hate those annoying cinema-goers that just gets on your nerves everytime? Well, here is my very own Top 5 list.

The Ringer (Y U NO SILENT PHONE!?)

This has got to be my top cinema pet peeves. I just don’t get it. There are reminders again and again to switch off your phone or leave it on silent. Why do they not get it? To top that up, instead of immediately switching it off and quietly texting the person on the other line that they are in the cinema now and will call back later or something to that line, there are those very few who answers the phone and carries out a conversation as tho as they are in a coffee shop, not a cinema.

Phone conversation goes something like this
“Harlowww…Harloww ah? Can you hear me ah?”
“Yalor, noisy here la, coz in cinema”
“Hai lor, watching Kung Fu Panda”
”Oh. neber mine can tok tok to you now, not fighting scene oso”
“Ya lo. ching chong, ling long, ting tong….Woakay! Bai!”

Irritates the life out of me!

The Vibrator (Y U NO KNOW SHAKE LEG MEANS SHAKE YOUR LUCK AWAY MEH?!)

These are the ones who shake their legs again and again like a woodpecker drilling holes into the wood. First, you give them a polite smile, hoping that they take the hint. NO. Then you look again and give a growl. No hint taken there too. You will be in your seat and being shaken almost to a 15 on a Richter scale. Like please stop vibrating! No, I am not getting turned on if you must know why I am flustering! Tsk!

The BO-rer (Y U NO USE DEODARANT?!)

Ok, being stuck in a crowded place, you will encounter those few who have really bad BO. But in a normal crowded place, you can choose to move away. But in the cinema, you fate is sealed the moment your cinema tickets are printed at the counter. So, if you’re like really unlucky, you will have Mr or Ms BO sitting strategically in front of you, back of you or diagonal to you. It gets worse everytime they move, because it means taking a whiff of their BO. I mean, there are people who have BO. Which is not too bad, but what I just can’t stand is those extremely extremely bad that they smell like they carried the whole farm with them or like they just ran from the gym or something. At least the basic hygiene, that’s all I ask of you! But please don’t over do it and come out wearing wayyyyyyy too much perfume or cologne too!

The Repeater (Y U NO STOP BEING A PARROT?!)

These are the ones that repeat lines after lines as if we (the audience) didn’t understand the movie. If it is to a partner who is old or to a lil kid, I can acceptably forgive. But no, they usually come alone without a partner (and you wonder why), thinking that they can do a better huskier version of George Clooney. Sorry la unker, no buying it la!

The Latecomer (Y U NO KNOW HOW TO COME ON TIME?!)

I just hate it when these people make a ‘grand entrance’ like really really late into the show. No, not talking about the five to ten minutes late (again, acceptably forgivable), but those that comes in like thirty minutes into the movie. Like seriously? And, I don’t know if it’s Murphy Law or what, but they usually have a place right in the middle of the cinema, so they have to walk thru a row of at least 10 seated people to get to their place. Like seriously! One case I have personally experience is this couple, who came in from one end of the door, walked thru a couple of people, right to the middle, only to realize that their seats are like the other end of the cinema. Like SERIOUSLY? -.-

What are your cinema pet peeves?

.: Plus To Google+ ? :.

2011-07-19T19:54:00.000+08:00

Think I should register just to see what the hype is all about! :)

.: Plastic Bag :.

2011-07-16T01:35:00.001+08:00

Is there really a chance to start over again?

.: I Am Not Happy, Bob :.

2011-07-14T15:40:00.002+08:00

Ok, so I’m usually never this pissed at her.

Blame it on my meds.

Blame it on my stress.

Blame it on my PMS.

But I am not happy, Bob. Not happy.

Don’t ask me why.

.: Scrabble Pendant : Starmek Creations :.

2011-07-13T17:58:00.000+08:00

Big squishy hugz to Simple for hosting this giveaway & another bigger squishier hugz to Shalini of Starmek Creations for this lovely pendant!

Shalini sells Scrabble Tile Pendants, Jewelry and Necklaces (Custom and Wholesale). These necklaces are unique, fun and most definitely affordable. Shalini has designs for bridal, friends, mom, niece, aunt, daddy, birthdays, weddings and wholesale.

The scrabble tile pendant is made using a wooden scrabble game piece and a high quality paper image. They make great gifts for wedding shower, bridesmaid, mothers day, party/wedding favours, personal gifts and special occasions. The pendant can also be personalized so you can have pics of your partner, kids, pets or even yourself on this unique pendant.

Like what you see? There's plenty more designs where that came from. Hop over to Starmek Creations and check 'em out!

.: Eggs in Purgatory :.

2011-07-12T19:56:00.001+08:00

I am really not sure of the history behind the name of this dish, but what I do know that it is a dish where fresh eggs are cracked (whole) onto a simmering tomato based sauce.

There are plenty of variations of this recipe, from a simple tomato base to a slightly more rich tomato-based sauce that have sliced bell pepper or avocadoes or onions or capers or artichokes or any combinations of those listed. Then of course, you can choose to add complimentary fresh herbs - the basils, the cilantros, whatever tickles your fancy. And lastly, it’s topped with a sprinkle of cheddar or parmesan (or you may even want to flood it with it). Then of course there’s also the method of cooking, some simmering the sauce under a slow fire, while the sauce cooks the egg or baked in the oven in an oven-proof dish.

What did I do?

Well, here is a very heavily modified recipe. Because I reached home at 9pm yesterday. And because I was craving for something with eggs. And because I have some bread left in the fridge. And because I’m cooking for one pax.

Well, here’s to all the because.

Lazy’s Version of Eggs in Purgatory

1 egg
1 clove of garlic
4 tablespoonful of spaghetti sauce (tomato based of course)
Some chili flakes, salt and pepper to taste
Slices of day old bread

1. Lightly fry some finely chopped garlic with some olive oil in a non stick pan. Turn off the fire. Scoop all of the garlic and place it onto a ramekin. Leave behind the olive oil.
2. Add the spaghetti sauce into the ramekin.
3. Season with chili flakes, salt and pepper. Mix well.
4. Crack the egg into the ramekin.
5. Put it in a steamer and steam for about 4 mins or so, until the egg white solidifies, but don’t overdo it, coz we still want the egg yold runny.
6. Sprinkle some shredded cheddar cheese on the top.
7. Toast the bread on the pan that has the olive oil, it will give the bread a nice crisp with a nice garlicky flavour. (I only did this via the pan coz I don't have an oven toaster with me, and to use the oven for a couple of slices of bread would be wasteful)
8. Use the bread, dip in and enjoy! Yummers!

I enjoyed it so much that I'm going to try it again in a more 'proper' and elaborate manner! I'm thinking canned tomatoes, bell pepper, fresh basil and perhaps free-range eggs. Mmmmmmm..........

.: Church Bells Ringing :.

2011-07-10T22:52:00.000+08:00

On one of those regular random (isn't it an oxymoron?) conversations I have with JC.

Kath : Did they ring the church bell* when we got married at St Mary?
JC : Yes, they did! That was the highlight of the day!
Kath : Haha, I thought the highlight of the day was marrying me?
*Long pause followed by laughter from JC*
JC : Church bell may be the highlight of the day, but marrying you is the highlight of my life!

Close one JC, real close!

*We got married at St Mary's Cathedral, and had the privilege of having the traditional church bell at the bell tower rung for us right before the wedding march. It's a privilege because not many churches in Malaysia have a traditional bell tower!

Beautiful interior of the Cathedral we got married in!

.: ESMERIA Organic Skincare :.

2011-07-09T16:56:00.001+08:00

A skincare range that not only thinks bout YOU (i.e. pure, natural & organic product for your delicate skin), but because it is organic, it thinks also about the FUTURE GENERATION. Afterall we have not inherited the Earth from our fathers, we are borrowing it from our children! For the love of our skin, love of beauty & nature, love our Earth - choose Esmeria! -Kathlynn-

ESMERIA is a range of skincare products truly inspired by nature. ESMERIA brings together Bio Actives from the farthest reaches of our abundant earth; from the driest deserts to the mysterious seas, to boost the skin's natural renewal, repair and protection processes. These Bio Actives are key to making our products as effective, if not more effective than traditional skin care products.

Their product ranges from face care, body & bath care and hair & scalp care. ESMERIA is 100% organic (it's the first EcoCert certified organic skincare developed in Malaysia) and is available in countries like Malaysia, UK & Singapore. ESMERIA skincare range caters for all skin type and because it is formulated with organic ingredient, it is the answer to any sensible, earth friendly, natural beauty's search for a skincare range that keeps it real! Products are available in three ranges;

At such an affordable price (for an organic product, mind you) ESMERIA is definitely easy on your pocket. ESMERIA is available in Caring Pharmacy, Vitacare Pharmacy, Justlife Store and a host of organic stores in Malaysia. Come end August, it will be available at Watson's & SHIN's outlet nationwide. You may want to check it out!

Note : A big thanks to Plusizekitten for organising ESMERIA Organic giveaway! I am one of the lucky three winners to win a set of ESMERIA Organic range, consisting of Prickly Pear Cleansing Gel, Prickly Pear Facial Scrub, Prickly Pear Balancing Toner & Prickly Pear Moisturiser!

.: My Wedding (Cup)Cake :.

2011-07-08T00:18:00.000+08:00

To cut cost, the cupcake tier was handmade (lotsa xoxo to Uncle Albert) & the top cake was DIYed (a nice matching fondant cake would have cost RM150, so I decided to DIYed mine for a small fraction of the cost - say RM10? Not perfect, but still look presentable no?)

On the other hand, savings on the cupcake tier is approximately RM150 minimum for something I would only use say once, at most twice?

If you're not a fussy bride or frugal (like me) just use your creativity to cut corners here & there. Honestly, it's more special to know that you have DIYed your own! And looking back at my wedding pics, I am so greatful & thankful to all those who have contributed in many many big & lil ways. Like my mom for handsewing my ring bearer pillow. Like Uncle Albert for this cupcake tier. Like Tammie for the pic on my church invitation card. And lil Rach & Tammie for the wishing tree. I heart them all so very much!

.: McDonalds Mid Week Special : Double Cheeseburger :.

2011-07-07T12:45:00.003+08:00

Lovin' Mid Month Special is back

This time, it’s the duolicious tower of juicy beef & cheese

DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER!

(yummers!)

BUY 1 GET 1 FREE

Double Cheeseburger (ala carte only)

On 11 to 13 July 2011

11am - 12 midnight

Just print out the coupon below (photocopies allowed) and redeem it at your nearest McDs restaurant

I’m Lovin It!

(and I’m sure you’re lovin it too)

.: Dandruff Be Gone :.

2011-07-06T13:23:00.002+08:00

I have had dandruff problems for as long as I could remember. Sad!

It is usually quite manageable, but of late, it has been getting worse.

My scalp itches most of the time, and the dandruff flakes are getting more and more. The more I scratch, the more it flakes and the more I injure my scalp.

I reckon it is because of stress, and yes, because of work problems & because of off-work problems, I am having sleepless nights of late. A snoring husband doesn’t help.

So, before my dandruff problems become more severe – my mom suggested that I use some prescribed anti-dandruff shampoo she got from our family doctor.

I tried it one day, and lo and behold – the flaking actually got worse!

I was so agitated, as I was not only flaking, but the itch is really getting to me. So, I decided to try a traditional natural remedy – apple cider vinegar.

What I did was took some apple cider vinegar and rub it on my scalp all over. There was a pain sensation on areas that I have scratched so bad that it was injured, but it’s much bearable than the annoying itch. The itch stopped almost immediately. I took a towel and wrapped my hair into a turban as I catch the downloaded Criminal Mind series (thanks to bff Dominic Shiu Mun Keith *private joke*) on TV (Yes, I finally have a TV – tho it’s a hand-me-down-comes-with-the-huge-TV-cabinet, it better than nothing huh?)

I rinsed my hair with warm water (apparently hot water damaged one’s hair) and lather a bit of shampoo coz I didn’t really like the smell. Some site says that the smell would go off, but I just couldn't bear with it, so I decided to rinse it off with a lil bit of shampoo. And guess what – IT WORKS! No more flakes, no more itch! One happy Kath!

So if any of you encounter similar problem as I did, try out this technique before throwing good ol’ hard earn cash in an expensive bottle of medicated shampoo.

P/S : Apparently it helps with thinning/falling hair also, but since it is acidic, it is advised not to use it so frequently, about once a week will do. Will try it out for the next couple of time and see if it really works!

.: Mr Popper's Penguin :.

2011-07-06T13:14:00.000+08:00

So the bff (big-fat-friend) Ben & I watched Mr. Popper’s Penguin last night at GSC One Utama.

The movie stars Mr. Funnyman Jim Carrey as a successful businessman who’s life priority in life is all screwed up (cliché cliché). He then inherits 6 penguins – and, obviously at the end he learn from ‘em penguins a valuable lesson bout life (cliché cliché). I am not in for the whole movie storyline – just way too much clichés. But you have gotta love some of the lame jokes that Jim Carrey cracks – he is just so expressive when he crack those lame jokes that you jus gotta laugh out loud!

Cute penguins, tho I reckon that the penguins in Happy Feet 2 is way cuter.

A show that the kids would definitely enjoy more than the adults, IMHO.

.: Wedding Album : In Progress :.

2011-07-05T00:00:00.001+08:00

I must admit, this whole creative, photo arrangements for my wedding album is more tougher that consolidations & group eliminations.

I am still halfway thru my church ceremony, have not even looked at the dinner ceremony yet.

Gosh, this is sooooooo very tiring.

Someone help? Anyone?

.: Sugarbabes : Ugly :.

2011-07-04T18:22:00.002+08:00

When I was 7

They said I was strange

I noticed that my eyes and hair weren't the same

I asked my parents if I was OK

They said you're more beautiful

And that's the way they show they wish

They had your smile

So my confidence was up for a while

I got real comfortable with my own style

I knew that they were only jealous cos

People are all the same

And we only get judged by what we do

My personality reflects me

And if I'm ugly then

So are you

There was a time when I felt like I cared

That I was shorter than everyone there

People made me feel like life was unfair

And I did things that made me ashamed

Cos I didn't know my body would change

I grew taller than them in more ways

But there will always be the one who will say

Something bad to make them feel great

People are all the same

And we only get judged by what we do

My personality reflects me

And if I'm ugly then

So are you

People are all the same

And we only get judged by what we do

My personality reflects me

And if I'm ugly then

So are you

Everybody talks bad about somebody

And never realises how it affects somebody

And you bet it won't be forgotten

Envy is the only thing it could be

Cos people are all the same

(The same, the same)

And we only get judged by what we do

(What we do, yeah, yeah)

My personality reflects me

And if I'm ugly then

(Yeah, you)

So are you

People are all the same

(Oh, oh, oh)

And we only get judged by what we do

(What we do, yeah)

My personality reflects me

And if I'm ugly then

(Yeah, so are you)

So are you

.: Day One of Year End :.

2011-07-01T21:52:00.000+08:00

Murphy pulled a fast one on me.

My boss had a bad slip disk & is now instructed by the doctor to stay in bed for a long time.

Sigh.....

I need not say more.

.: My Eyes, My Photos, My Work :.

2011-07-01T02:09:00.000+08:00

Both my eyes are red & teary again, I reckon it’s (another) infection i.e. conjunctivitis. Sigh, I have no eye deer why it happens so frequently!

Anyways, I was struggling to learn how to use an online photo album tool to create my own wedding album. The thing is, Tammie was suppose to help me over her holidays back in May, but somehow, things were dragged and before you know it, her semester started. Now, loaded with assignment & project deadlines, she passed the baton to me.

Now, if you known me a lil better, I have absolutely zero artistic sense. Yes, zero! Nada! Zilch! I phail-ed my arts back in primary and secondary school when it comes to practical weekly submission of artwork and my only saving grace was the theory bit of it.

So, there I was, struggling to use (quite simplified) photo book tool, while trying to squeeze whatever creative juices I have (if any) to arrange the pics in a 11” x 8.5” forty pager photo album which I got it for a discount btw! Only RM64 instead for a package valued at RM 256, that’s like a 75% off! Anyways, I reckon I will exceed the 40 minimum pages, but its ok, coz it’s like only a RM 3.20 per additional page, so I reckon that this is quite a deal! :)

I digress.

Anyways, I was frustrated and all stressed out over the whole thing last night, as I tried to arrange & play with the tools. I tried to look at some wedding photo albums for some ideas on how to arrange the pictures. I don’t want it to be too sparse that it’s a waste of page, but neither do I want to cram everything in rows of 3 or 4 looking like a production line of old fashion photo album. Sigh.

To make things even more frustrating, my year end peak is near *gasp*. I really can’t breathe because I am just so worried that something big explodes right before year end (don’t you just hate when the management just love to ‘cramp’ all those fancy smancy derivatives/instruments or mergers/demergers right before year end! Management, Y U NO wait until after year end? Yerrrrrrrrrrr………!). A few major transaction already took place, thank god the clock stop ticking midnight of June 30th (that's like two hours ago!)

Sigh, I don’t like to rant bout work, but I just need at outlet to release some frustration!

Anyways, that’s all bout my eyes, my photos & my work!

.: Giveaways, Giveaways, Giveaways :.

2011-06-30T22:39:00.009+08:00

Funny Face Beauty - click here

Note : All the previous giveaways that I have entered & linked their blog here is reduced to this bunch of jibberish codes. Not sure what went wrong! :( Sad, real sad! :(

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.: Clearing The Air On EPF Nominees :.

2011-06-28T15:16:00.000+08:00

Employer Provision Funds (EPF) or in Bahasa Malaysia, Kumpulan Wang Simpanan Pekerja (KWSP) has cleared the air with regards to EPF nominees during the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers meeting with EPF recently. One of the members had enquired about the above said matter and below is the reply obtained from EPF:

If a member has more than one nominee and one of the nominees dies during the member’s lifetime, only the portion that was bequeathed to the deceased nominee will be invalid.

Should the member later dies without updating his nomination, the other nominees will receive their portion accordingly. Only the portion that was bequeathed to the deceased nominee will be subject to procedures under ‘EPF savings without nomination’ in which the first priority for the right to claim the member's savings goes to the appointed administrator of the deceased member’s estate.

Therefore it is not true that if you, as a member, have named more than one nominee, the entire nomination will be void if one of the nominee dies before you. It follows however that if you have named only one nominee and he or she dies before you, the nomination will be void unless a new beneficiary is nominated.

Please note that you don’t have to produce the death certificate of a deceased nominee to change your nomination. You can change/update your nomination anytime by simply completing a new KWSP 4 (AHL) Form. This will automatically revoke any earlier nomination made.

The information concerning approaching EPF counter within 3 days to avoid EPF savings being ‘surrendered to Amanah Raya’ if no nomination is made or if nominee dies at the same time as the member is not true.

Depending on the amount of savings in the member’s account, if there is no nomination the procedure will be as follows:

If member’s EPF savings are less than RM25,000:

Ø Initial sum of RM2,500 will be paid to the next of kin.
Ø The balance will be paid after a two-month period from the date of the member’s death.

If member’s EPF savings are more than RM25,000:

Ø Initially a sum of RM2,500 will be paid to the next of kin.
Ø The second payment (not more than RM17,500) will be paid to the next of kin after two months from the date of the member’s death.

The balance of the savings will be paid upon submitting the Letter of Administration/Grant of Probate/Distribution Order/Faraid Certificate from the party that administers estates such as Amanah Raya Berhad or the Court or the Land Office, respectively. The process to obtain these documents is time-consuming and certain fees will also need to be paid. On the other hand, with nomination, no fees need to be paid.

This is precisely why nominating is very important. You should also ensure that you update your beneficiary whenever there is any major life changes such as marriage, additional new members or the death of a nominated beneficiary.

If you have any further questions, please contact the following:

Nik Affendi Jaafar
General Manager
Public Relations, EPF

.: I Am That Girl :.

2011-06-25T11:47:00.029+08:00

I am that girl who is grateful for everything, but also,
I am that girl who is never satisfied with anything.
I am that girl wants to take all the chances and risks but also,
I am that girl who always comes back to taking the safest route.
I am that girl who seeks for adventure, yet also,
I am that girl that is least adaptable to changes.
I am that girl who preaches of happiness and joy to friends, yet also,
I am that girl who suffers alone in silence.
I am that girl who says “thank you” to the cashiers or the toll collectors, yet also,
I am that girl whose tongue freezes in saying “I love you” to the people she loves most.
I am that girl who is a phlegmatic most of the time, but also,
I am that girl who bears all the world burden on her small shoulder, but too,
I am that girl who just wants to sit in front of the TV & watch cartoons all day.
I am that girl who can be a sanguine, choleric and melancholy when situation calls.
I am that girl who takes pride in her work, yet
I am that girl who easily loses interest in it.
I am that girl who loves to be spontaneous, but also,
I am that girl that needs a Plan B (and a Plan C just in case!)
I am that girl who tries to be superwoman and save the world, yet
I am that girl who can't navigate from Point A to Point B
I am that girl who have memories of when she was only three, but then,
I am that girl who can actually forget things that people don't - like riding a bike.
I am that girl who can smile, laugh and be carefree on the outside, but also,
I am that girl who worries, bleeds & cries on the inside.
I am that girl who knows the ins & outs of her best friends, but at the same time,
I am that girl who doesn't even understand her own-self.

I am that girl and I am who I am.

Blogpost inspired by Suhana & Pung Shalene